Cultivation

• Jostaberry plants do not have thorns, and they are able to fertilize themselves. One plant can produce approximately 11 lbs of fruit. Eat these plants naturally or cooked for a source of vitamin C. The plants resist mildew, bud mite and fungus. Jostaberries are found in Europe, Canada and the United States. According to the Plant for a Future website, jostaberries grow best in a moist soil so that the fruits can develop. They do not work well in dry, chalky, or heavy clay soils. Jostaberry plants thrive in sunlight, but are still able to somewhat cultivate in shaded areas. Even though these plants are best in warm climates, they can still survive in colder climates, but will produce fewer amounts of the fruit. Ideally, jostaberries need a moist, slightly acid soil that will not dry out.
  
  

Planting

• Buy Jostaberries in a pot or bare-rooted from most garden shops, according to the E Winery Coop website. A few months before you plant your jostaberries, dig up the soil a few inches deep to give the soil time to settle. Then, add compost or any other long-lasting fertilizer. Plant Jostaberries in the early winter, around mid-November. Each plant should be about 6 feet apart. To help them grow, make sure the bushes are planted 2 inches deeper than if they were bare-rooted or put in a pot. Make sure the sides of the plants are surrounded by soil.
  
  

Care

• The plants must receive plenty of water and be well pruned. Preventing weeds from growing around them is also very important. To help prevent weed build-up, use garden compost or put a weed control fabric around the soil. Avoid pruning the plants during the first winter, but do prune for subsequent winters. It's important to remove any stems that appear contaminated, damaged, or entangled with one another. Trim about 20 percent of the main part of the plant to give it space to breathe. Also, remove about 15 percent of any surrounding old wood.