Crops › Jostaberry
How to grow Jostaberry
in the UK
Sow November to March, plant out December, harvest July to August. About 130 days from seed to plate.
Now then, the Jostaberry. It's a proper cracking fruit, a real hybrid of blackcurrant and gooseberry, you know. They're vigorous on the plot and the best bit? No thorns, which is a proper bonus when you're picking your harvest, to be honest.
Sowing
You'll usually get these as bare-root bushes, so you're looking to sow them anytime from November right through to March. When they arrive, get 'em in the ground sharpish. Dig a good sized hole, plenty of room for the roots to spread out nice and wide, then backfill with some decent compost. Give it a good watering in once it's settled and make sure it's got enough space around it, they like to spread out a bit, you know.
Growing on
Jostaberries are cracking for giving a good yield, but they do need their space to get established properly. Once the risk of the last frost has well and truly passed – usually mid to late May up here in the North, a bit earlier down south – you can get them planted out. Give each bush at least 1.5 to 2 metres, they're big lads and need room to grow without being crowded out.
Looking after it
Keep an eye on the watering, especially when they're young or if we have a dry spell. A good mulch of compost around the base in spring helps keep the moisture in and feeds 'em a bit. Just like blackcurrants, you'll want to prune them by removing the oldest wood each year, encouraging new growth for a better crop.
What goes wrong
Now, even the toughest plants have their little issues, don't they? Sawfly can be a bother on the leaves, so keep an eye out for those grubs. Mildew sometimes crops up too, especially if it's a bit humid. Just make sure there's good air circulation and deal with any problems sharpish, it helps to keep them healthy.
Harvest
You'll be harvesting your jostaberries from July through to August, depending on the weather and the variety. Pick them when they're proper ripe and dark, they'll come off the bush easily then. They'll keep in the fridge for a few days, but to be honest, they're cracking for making jam, pies, or just freezing for a taste of summer later on.
I always say, having no thorns on these is a proper blessing when you're picking, makes the job so much easier, you know what I mean.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Jostine Jostine is a reliable hybrid, combining the best of blackcurrant and gooseberry with no thorns. A cracking choice for anyone wanting a good yield for jam making and freezing. | No club votes yet |
| Jogranda Another fine hybrid, Jogranda gives you vigorous, thornless bushes with plenty of fruit. It's a solid performer for any allotment keeper looking for a dependable crop. | No club votes yet |
| Jovar Jovar offers a strong, thornless bush that brings a good mix of blackcurrant and gooseberry flavours. Ideal for those who enjoy making their own preserves and want a reliable yield. | No club votes yet |
| Josta (standard) The classic Josta is a vigorous, thornless hybrid, a real stalwart on the allotment. If you're after a traditional jostaberry experience with good productivity, this is the one. | No club votes yet |
| Jostaki Jostaki is a robust, thornless hybrid that produces plenty of dark, flavourful berries. A great option for those who want a strong growing bush that's easy to pick. | No club votes yet |
| Clostern Clostern is a vigorous, thornless hybrid with a good balance of sweet and tart flavours. It's well-suited for gardeners who appreciate a versatile berry for eating fresh or cooking. | No club votes yet |
| Anja Anja is a reliable, thornless hybrid that grows strongly and gives a good crop. Perfect for those who want a hardy bush that's not too much bother and yields well. | No club votes yet |
| Black Reward Black Reward is a vigorous, thornless hybrid known for its darker, richly flavoured fruits. It's a cracking choice for anyone looking for a distinctive taste in their jams and pies. | No club votes yet |
| Rita Rita is a strong-growing, thornless hybrid that consistently produces good yields of berries. A great all-rounder for the allotment, offering easy picking and plenty of fruit. | No club votes yet |
| Jona Jona is a vigorous, thornless hybrid that delivers a steady supply of tasty berries. It's a solid performer for any garden or allotment where space allows for its spread. | No club votes yet |
| Orion Orion is a robust, thornless hybrid known for its consistent and heavy cropping. Ideal for those who want a bountiful harvest for preserving or sharing with friends and family. | No club votes yet |
| Reka Josta Reka Josta is a vigorous, thornless hybrid that thrives and produces plenty of delicious fruit. A good choice for gardeners who want a resilient bush with a reliable performance. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Jostaberry seeds
Partner retailers. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission. It never costs you more.
Cook the harvest
A stunning tart with a crisp sweet pastry shell filled with a rich, buttery almond frangipane and topped with whole jostaberries that sink into the cream as it bakes. The sharp, winey berries cut through the richness of the almond filling perfectly, while the pastry provides the necessary crunch. Serve with crème fraîche for a proper summer pudding.
70 min · mediumA showstopping meringue pavlova with a crisp outer shell and marshmallow centre, piled with softly whipped cream and topped with a warm jostaberry compote that bleeds deep purple into the cream. The sharp, winey depth of the jostaberry compote is the perfect foil for the sweetness of the meringue, making this one of the finest summer pavlova variations imaginable.
115 min · mediumA classic pastry cream tart filled with vanilla crème pâtissière and topped with fresh jostaberries glazed with a little warmed redcurrant jelly. The jewel-like berries sit on the silky, barely-set cream in a crisp, buttery shell — this is a beautiful summer tart that shows off jostaberries at their most elegant.
70 min · challengingA dramatic, sticky upside-down cake with jostaberries caramelised in butter and brown sugar forming a glossy, jewel-dark topping over a soft, buttery vanilla sponge. Turned out onto a plate, the jostaberries glisten in a deep amber caramel and the cake itself is wonderfully moist from the berry juices that seep into it during baking. Magnificent warm with double cream.
60 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: comfrey, borage
Questions people ask
When do you sow Jostaberry in the UK?
Sow Jostaberry from November to March. Plant out December, after the last frost.
How long does Jostaberry take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 130 days, with the harvest July to August.
Which Jostaberry varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Jostine, Jogranda, Jovar, Josta (standard) and more.
Track your Jostaberry from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.