Jostaberry & Worcesterberry (American Gooseberry)

[Guest]

Greetings All,

I am just wondering whether or not any of you have grown Jostaberry or Worcesterberry (American Gooseberry) before.

I have both growing in my garden at present, but each was planted last season, and so has yet to produce fruit.

This is my second season of kitchen gardening, and so far, the results are fair.

We have planted two plum trees, three cherry trees, three rhubarb plants, one blackcurrent bush, one redcurrant busy, twelve raspberry canes, one tayberry, one sunberry and two blackberries.

The rhubarb, raspberries and plums produced heavily.

I have high hopes for a good year as spring approaches.

Thanks,

Giles.

[Guest]

I planted one bush of each a while back and neither had produced fruit after 3 seasons. I sold up and moved on after that (2 years ago), so I have no idea whether the new tenants are getting fruit yet! The jostaberry was a very vigorous bush and cuttings were easy to strike. Just never saw a single fruit. Ah um.

[Guest]

I have a plantation of Jostaberry, been going about 12 years and they crop heavily now but they are rather slow growers, eventually reaching a large bush. The fruit is rather like blackurrant but stronger flavour and makes a thick jam. The blackbirds in particular will clear the lot if they can get near.
I did rather well on Worcesterberry before I moved, at present the bush is covered with blackberry so I don't know if it is alive. It can be tricky to pick as growth is very dense. Best to pick after the red colouring comes. It makes a change from gooseberry but more wanted as the berries are smaller than gooseberry.

[Guest]

The thorns of the Worcesterberry are able quite easily to penetrate my gardening gloves! Should make harvest fun