Planting Jostaberry Plants
Few things are as delicious as homegrown berries, and the success of your harvest begins right with the planting site and method. For maximum growth and yields later on, give your plants the best foundation possible.
NOTE: This is part 4 in a series of 10 articles. For a complete background on how to grow jostaberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
Before Planting
Before you plant, check your soil pH. Contact your local County Extension Office for information about soil testing in your area, or purchase one of our digital meters for quick and accurate results. Jostaberries grow best with a soil pH between 6.0-6.5. Ideal soil is fertile, loamy and well drained (but will not dry out). They like moist, but not water-logged, soil.
Planting Tips
- Jostaberries are more tolerant of site and soil conditions than many other fruits, but they prefer full sun to part-shade.
- Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the roots without cramping them.
- Plant the berries roughly 2 inches deeper than they originally were in the pot (or nursery row, if bare root).
- Space your plants 3' to 6' apart.
- Fill around the roots with soil and firm it down.
- Fertilize and give your plants a good watering. (If planting in the fall, wait to fertilize until spring for best results.)
- Trim every shoot within two buds above the soil level.
Additional Notes
- Jostaberry is a cross between a black currant and gooseberry.
