The Jostaberries #15

🌿 This adorable bunch of berries have some origin story! Jostaberries are a cross between black currants and gooseberries and have a taste that's a combination of the two. Their name is a combination of the German words for the two varieties, Johannisbeere and Stachelbeere. When ripe, they are a glossy deep purple or almost black color and have a sweet, tart, and tangy flavor with hints of black currant, grape, and kiwi. 🫐📜 🌿 In 1883, the goal of the blackcurrant & gooseberry mix was to combine the best qualities of both species into one plant. However, it wasn't until 1977 that the first cultivar, "Josta", was made available to the public. The delay was due to a problem with mule sterility, which caused good plant growth and lots of flowers, but no fruit set. This was eventually overcome with a chemical treatment. 🧪🌿 🌿FRESH FACTS: In general, the jostaberry is very hardy and rarely succumbs to diseases or pests. The majority of varieties are resistant to diseases such as gooseberry powdery mildew, leaf spot disease, and the blackcurrant gall mite. Only aphids can infest the jostaberry, but they can be washed away with a water jet if the infestation is mild. 🐛🍃