Growing jostaberries in kentucky

Growing Jostaberries In Kentucky

Presented by Dennis Morgeson Agent for Horticulture Washington County Program adapted from a Gooseberry and Currant powerpoint by Kirk W. Pomper, Ph.D. and Sheri Crabtree M.Sc. Kentucky State University

Jostaberry

• Pronounced yust-a-berry • A cross between currant and gooseberry involving three original species the black currant, the North American black gooseberry, and the European gooseberry in Germany in 1977 • The fruit taste more like black currant when fully ripe and more like gooseberry when not fully ripe • The fruit are dark purple or black when ripe

Jostaberry

• Plants are hardy and easy to grow • They make excellent juices, wines, jams, jellies, preserves, and pies • The jostaberry can be used in the same manner as currants an gooseberries and his high in Vitamin C

Jostaberry Culture

• Plants prefer a cool moist soil, well-drained, or rich clay loam with a pH of 6-7.5 • Space plants 4-5 feet apart • Irrigation is helpful in most summers in Kentucky

Planting and Fertilization • Soil Test!

• Apply 3 lbs 10-10-10 per 100 square feet if no test • Plants are notoriously hardy surviving when neglected but they will only produce high yields if fertilized and irrigated • Plants should be planted in spring, generally in March or early April

Pruning Jostaberry

• Jostaberry like currant and gooseberry produce the majority of their fruit on 2 and 3 year old shoots (shoots 4 years and older produce very little fruit) • After the first growing season, remove all but 6 to 8 vigorous healthy shoots • The following year, leave 4 or 5 one year old shoots and 3 or 4 two year old canes • After the third growing season, keep 3 or 4 shoots each of one, two, and three year old growth • Prune in late winter or early spring

Pruning Jostaberry

Yields • 4 years to full production expect about 2-4 quarts per bush

Jostaberry

• Resistant to gray mold, mildew, and white pine blister rust that attacks many currant and gooseberry varieties • May have a net-like russeting on the leaf surface that has not been associated with any insect or disease pathogens

Varieties

• Jostaberry is the orginal cross and variety name

A gooseberry and currant cross! The rich berry taste is reminiscent of gooseberry with a kiss of black currant. Fruit is high in vitamin C and forms in large clusters, ideal for fresh-eating or cooking. Cold-hardy plants are long-lived, thornless, and productive once established.

Disease-resistant to American gooseberry mildew, black currant leaf spot, white pine blister rust, and big bud gall mite. Ripens in July. Selfpollinating.

Varieties

• ORUS 10 (Oregon 1960) • Vigorous, thorny, and is resistant to gray mold, mildew, and white pine blister rust • Good Flavor

Varieties

• ORUS 8 (Oregon 1960) • The plant is vigorous, thorny, and is resistant to gray mold, mildew, and white pine blister rust.

• Susceptible to leaf spot!

Trials

• Jostaberry has been trialed at Kentucky State University with all varieties ripening in mid June • Josta and ORUS 8 had lower yields than ORUS 10 but Josta had the biggest fruit • All varieties were vigorous and had good pest resistance

Pests

• Like all small fruits birds, deer, and raccoons can be a problem • While plants are small rabbits like to nip them off as well • Jostaberries depending on variety have no major disease issues • Be sure to keep old leaves picked up • No major insect pests either although spider mites may be a problem in some locations

Uses • • • •

Ice Cream Wine Jams and Jellies pie

(Josta)Berry Pie Pastry for 2 crust pie 3 C jostaberries 1 C chopped pecans 2-4 T water 1 C sugar 3 T cornstarch 1T lemon juice 1/4-1/2 t cinnamon 1 1/2 T butter Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line 9" pie plate with pastry. Combine sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and cinnamon. Mix lightly through berries, pecans and water. Pour into pie plate.

Dot with butter. Cover with crust top. Slit top.

Bake until crust is nicely browned and juice bubbles through slits in crust (~35-45 minutes).

You can also use this recipe for mulberry pie, just switch out the jostaberries. If you don't have pecans, leave them out and add in another cup of berries.

Questions?