Currants, Gooseberries and Jostaberries Fact Sheet No

Currants, Gooseberries and Jostaberries Fact Sheet No. 7.005 Gardening Series|Fruits and Vegetables by H. Hughes, J.E. Ells and J. Reich* Red currants (Ribes sativum and berries with good flavor, and Invicta, Quick Facts R. rubrum), black currents (R. nigrum) which produces very large, pear-shaped gooseberries (R. grossularia svn. R. uva- berries with excellent flavor. • Currants, gooseberries and crispa) and jostaberries (R. nidigrolaria) Jostaberries are a hybrid between jostaberries have value both have ornamental as well as fruit value. the gooseberry and the black current. as ornamentals and fruits. Their hardiness and adaptability allow Berries are two to three times the size them to succeed where most other fruit of the red current, nearly the size of the • Maximum yields and top crops fail. With proper variety selection common gooseberry. They are nearly quality fruit are produced on and care, currants, gooseberries and black, although more reddish forms are fertile, well-drained, loamy jostaberries may be grown at elevations available. Best fruit set occurs when soils. up to 10,000 feet. both black and red jostaberries are • Currants and gooseberries grown. are hardy and can be grown Both currants and gooseberries are Varieties self-fruitful, meaning only one variety on poorer soils. Red and black currants are preferred is needed for fruiting. However, having • Pick gooseberries green for for fruit production over alpine or golden more than one plant and plants of pies and jams or fully ripe for currants. Red Lake produces a dark different varieties may increase yields. dessert-quality fresh fruit. red, mild, subacid berry averaging 3/8 inch. It is the most popular variety • For fruit, red and black carried by local nurseries and is Location and Soil currants are preferred over recommended for Colorado. Wilder, a Currants, gooseberries and alpine or golden. similar variety but with larger clusters, jostaberries grow best in full sunlight but also is recommended. White and pink do tolerate partial shade. For large scale • Jostaberry is a fast-growing currants are also available. Both are production growers should provide a hybrid between the black red currants selected for their pale fruit windbreak. Otherwise, drying winds may currant and gooseberry. color. Zante currants are actually dried reduce plant growth and fruit size. grapes (raisins); do not confuse them They produce best in fertile, loamy, with currants. well-drained soils with a pH of 6 to 7. Gooseberries recommended for However, they will tolerate clay soils with Colorado are Pixwell and Welcome. higher a pH and because they produce Pixwell produces round 1/2-inch berries some fruit even in poor soils, they can that are light green, maturing to a soft serve as ornamentals that attract wildlife pink. Welcome, sweeter and darker in areas receiving infrequent watering. at maturity, also produces a 1/2¬inch A soil test is best for determining berry. Its thorns are not as numerous or fertility levels. However, in lieu of a soil stiff as Pixwell, making it easier to pick. test, the following recommendations are Other varieties that may be of interest made. If planted in good garden soil, the to Colorado gardeners are Hinnomaki plants need only a maintenance amount Red, which produces small, dark red of fertilizer – 4 pounds of ammonium sulfate and 2 pounds of treble superphosphate per *H. Hughes, Colorado State University professor; and J.E. 1,000 square feet. Ells, Colorado State University Extension vegetable crops However, if the soil has not produced specialist and associate professor. 10/99. Reviewed by a good garden, apply 8 pounds of ©Colorado State University J. Reich, Extension horticulture agent, Boulder County. ammonium sulfate, 4 pounds of treble Extension. 10/99. Revised 1/17. 10/09, reviewed and revised by E. Hammond, horticulture superphosphate, 1 pound of zinc sulfate Extension agent, Adams County, 1/2017. extension.colostate.edu and 1 pound of iron chelate per 1,000 square feet. For smaller plantings 4-8 Mulch reduces weeds, water needs, Red spider mites are hard to see ounces of a 10-10-10 fertilizer should and winter injury to roots caused by because they are so small. Look be applied per plant per year. alternate freezing and thawing. for yellow spots on the leaves that For new plantings it may be Apply adequate irrigation for best eventually turn brown. beneficial to incorporate 3 yards fruit size and yield. After harvest, Although diseases are common to (approximately 1 inch) of manure or gradually reduce the amount of water currants, gooseberries and jostaberries manure based compost or 6-9 yards to harden the plants prior to winter. in other areas, they have not yet (2-3 inches) of plant based compost Give a final watering in November to been reported as major problems in into the top 6-8 inches of soil per 1,000 reduce drying during the winter. Colorado. square ft. Harvesting and Preservation Red currants are borne in clusters Pruning and generally are deep red and soft Planting Pruning is required for good yield. when fully ripe. Pick currants by Currants and gooseberries are Red currants and jostaberries bear fruit pinching off the main cluster stem propagated from cuttings of year-old on spurs (shortened fruiting branches) at the base, using the forefinger and wood or through mound layering. They of two- and three-year-old wood. Some thumb. For jelly, pick them slightly generally are sold as one- or two-year fruit is borne near the base of year-old underripe when the pectin level is high. old bare-root plants. Local nurseries wood. Gooseberries are similar, but For juices, jams and tarts, pick them carry them growing in containers as their year-old wood is more fruitful. when fully ripe and soft. Picking may two- or three-year-old plants. Prune in late winter or early spring last two or three weeks, as they remain Plant them 3.5 to 4.5 feet apart in prior to bud swelling. Remove wood useable for some time while on the early spring, in rows spaced 6 to 8 more than three years old, and thin bush. Currants may be dried and used feet apart. Prior to planting, prune out out younger wood. The resulting bush as a substitute for raisins. all damaged roots and branches of should have three upright canes each Gooseberries often are picked bare-root stock. Cut branches back to of three-, two- and one¬year-old green, after they reach their full size 5 inches, and set plants 1 to 2 inches wood. Gooseberries sometimes are but before they ripen. Avoid the thorns below the soil line. Water well. pruned to remove more of the three- when picking. Use them within a few year¬old wood while retaining more days after picking. Use immature younger wood. See Figure 1. gooseberries in pies, tarts, jams and Care and Maintenance meat sauces. Fully ripe fruit, soft and Control weeds to reduce pink or red, makes an excellent fresh, competition and increase yield. These Insects and Diseases sweet fruit. shrubs respond well to a heavy mulch A wide range of insects and Pick jostaberries when they are of straw or similar material. When diseases affect currants, gooseberries fully colored (reddish-black to black) using straw, apply nitrogen at the rate and jostaberries. To avoid problems, and soft. Harvest time is not critical of one part per 100 parts of dry matter. purchase only quality, disease-free – berries have a long shelf-life. They plants. make excellent preserves, considered Insects most commonly observed by some to be better than either red are aphids, cane borers and red spider currant or gooseberry. mites. Aphids are small, soft-bodied, Fruit yield for currants and pear-shaped insects on the underside gooseberries may be 4 to 8 quarts of leaves. from mature plants, which remain Caneborers are small white grubs productive up to 20 years. that bore into stems, causing wilting of the upper portion of the cane. Control References them by pruning well below the wilted Shoemaker, T.S. Small Fruit tip and destroying the affected part. Culture, 5th Edition. AVI Pub. Co. Inc., Westport, Conn. 1977. Barney D.L. and Hummer K.E. Currants Gooseberries and Figure 1: Currant showing correct pruning of Jostaberries A Guide for Growers, mature shrub. Numbers 1, 2 and 3 indicate age Markerters and Researchers in North of stem in years. America. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fl. 2005. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned..

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