Does anyone know how to grow these? They are said to be a cross between
gooseberries and blackcurrants but which parent do they favour? Should I
prune them as a bush, like a gooseberry, or to produce suckers (sorry if
this is the wrong word) like a blackcurrant.

Fogey

In article ,
"Joe Higman" writes:
|
| Does anyone know how to grow these? They are said to be a cross between
| gooseberries and blackcurrants but which parent do they favour? Should I
| prune them as a bush, like a gooseberry, or to produce suckers (sorry if
| this is the wrong word) like a blackcurrant.

Eh? My blackcurrents and Jostaberries don't sucker much! You can cut
them back fairly hard, but that's not the same.

I grow them but, the few berries we have got, have been uninspiring.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

In article ,
"Joe Higman" writes:
|
| Does anyone know how to grow these? They are said to be a cross between
| gooseberries and blackcurrants but which parent do they favour?
Should I
| prune them as a bush, like a gooseberry, or to produce suckers (sorry
if
| this is the wrong word) like a blackcurrant.

Eh? My blackcurrents and Jostaberries don't sucker much! You can cut
them back fairly hard, but that's not the same.

I grow them but, the few berries we have got, have been uninspiring.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Thanks for replying. I suppose what I mean is that as I understand it from
books I've referred to, gooseberries are supposed to be pruned so as to
produce bushes like small apple or pear trees. Blackcurrants are supposed to
be planted so that there are a number of shoots emerging from the soil, and
the old shoots are cut back close to the soil to make room for new ones. So
do you treat jostaberries like gooseberries or blackcurrants? Or have I got
it wrong? (This is the problem with learning this stuff from books, I
suppose).

All the best

Fogey

On May 21, 9:05 am, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
In article ,"Joe Higman" writes:
|
| Does anyone know how to grow these? They are said to be a cross between
| gooseberries and blackcurrants but which parent do they favour? Should I

You get blackcurrants on steroids the size of small gooseberries.
Birds love them.
AFAICT they don't succumb to American gooseberry mildew.

| prune them as a bush, like a gooseberry, or to produce suckers (sorry if
| this is the wrong word) like a blackcurrant.

Eh? My blackcurrents and Jostaberries don't sucker much! You can cut
them back fairly hard, but that's not the same.

I grow them but, the few berries we have got, have been uninspiring.

I guess they don't like your soil then. Ours have always grown
vigorously on a heavy clay soil with lots of fruit. The big problem is
in beating the birds to eating them. Much less topping & tailing
needed than blackcurrants. I guess I could net them and get more of
the crop. Hens are very funny underneath jumping up to get at the
fruits.

Regards,
Martin Brown

Joe Higman wrote:

Thanks for replying. I suppose what I mean is that as I understand it
from books I've referred to, gooseberries are supposed to be pruned so
as to produce bushes like small apple or pear trees. Blackcurrants are
supposed to be planted so that there are a number of shoots emerging
from the soil, and the old shoots are cut back close to the soil to make
room for new ones.

"No shoot rising from the base of the plant should remain in
place longer than three years."

There's a large old blackcurrant bush near me in a public spot.

It doesn't look like it is ever pruned - yet crops very heavily.

It makes me very reluctant to cut my own bush back.
--
__________
|im |yler http://timtyler.org/ Remove lock to reply.

On May 22, 2:22 am, Anne Jackson wrote:

I have never pruned my blackcurrant bushes either, but prune my
gooseberry and Worcesterberry (Jostaberry?) bushes to create a
'goblet' shape, keeping the centre of the bush open, as I believe
this helps to prevent mould spots on the berries.

I forgot to prune my redcurrants and they are covered in a huge crop
of weeney berries, hopefully I can add them to the 3 stone I already
have in the freezer.

Judith

On 21 May, 23:12, Tim Tyler wrote:
Joe Higman wrote:
Thanks for replying. I suppose what I mean is that as I understand it
from books I've referred to, gooseberries are supposed to be pruned so
as to produce bushes like small apple or pear trees. Blackcurrants are
supposed to be planted so that there are a number of shoots emerging
from the soil, and the old shoots are cut back close to the soil to make
room for new ones.

"No shoot rising from the base of the plant should remain in
place longer than three years."

There's a large old blackcurrant bush near me in a public spot.

It doesn't look like it is ever pruned - yet crops very heavily.

It makes me very reluctant to cut my own bush back.
--
__________
|im |yler http://timtyler.org/ Remove lock to reply.

I just trim my Josta berries, remember they grow a lot bigger than
either of their parents. they will happily grow to 6ft and beyond.
I seldom get any fruit as the birds get up earlier than I do and they
love them.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries