Common Name: Jostaberry

General Information

Ribes × nidigrolaria is an unarmed, deciduous shrub growing up to 180cm tall.
Jostaberry is a complex hybrid species, produced by crossing the blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) with the gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) and the American gooseberry (Ribes divaricatum). It is increasingly being cultivated as a fruit crop[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Garden hybrids derived from complex crosses between the blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum), the gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) and Ribes divaricatum

Habitat

Not known in the wild.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Jostaberry is a very hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures falling to -20°c[].
Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality[, ]. Best grown on a deep sandy loam[]. Dislikes very heavy clay, chalky soils and thin dry soils, but it can succeed on most soil types if plenty of organic matter is incorporated[]. Quite tolerant of shade though not fruiting so well in such a position[].
Jostaberry is a complex hybrid species, produced by crossing the blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) with the gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) and the American gooseberry (Ribes divaricatum). It is increasingly being cultivated as a fruit crop[].
Hybrids between the blackcurrant and the gooseberries have often been produced, but most stocks were wholly or mainly infertile. However, polyploidisation by using colchicine has been successful in overcoming sterility in some cases and a number of successful cultivars have been produced since the 1970's[].
Very vigorous plants, they can produce prolific crops of fruit. They are being grown increasingly in gardens. In general they resist American gooseberry mildew, blackcurrant leaf spot and gall mite.
White pine blister rust, caused by the pathogen Cronartium ribicola, is a fungal disease that is native to Asia but has spread via human activity to many other regions, where it has become more virulent. It has a complex life-cycle that requires both currants (Ribes species) and white pines (Pinus species of the section Strobus) for the disease to spread. Whilst Ribes species can generally live with the disease (it has an annual life-cycle and infects the leaves only) Pinus species can be devastated by it (it becomes perennial and spreads through the tree). Young pines are far more susceptible than mature trees. In America the growing of certain Ribes species is banned in some areas in order to protect plantations of white pine species.
Plants in this genus tend to be notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, jams etc[]. Intermediate in size and flavour between gooseberries and blackcurrants, tasting more like a gooseberry when under-ripe and more like a blackcurrant when fully ripe[]. The fruit is rich in vitamin C[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification at between 0 and 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[, ]. Under normal storage conditions the seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring of the following year. This plant is a cultivar and will not breed true from seed.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame[, ].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, late autumn to late winter in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors[, ].