How to prune jostaberry

Late autumn to late winter while fully dormant. Identify the oldest stems by their darker, woodier bark. Cut these to the base, leaving the most productive younger growth. Aim to keep eight to twelve well-spaced stems of mixed ages. Remove any diseased or damaged wood entirely, cutting to healthy tissue.

Annually; one-third renewal each dormant season from year three onward. Jostaberry (a blackcurrant × gooseberry cross) is pruned similarly to blackcurrant: it fruits best on one- and two-year-old wood. After the third year, remove one-third of the oldest stems each winter. This renewal pruning keeps the vigorous, spreading bush productive, well-aired, and prevents the wood from becoming too old and unproductive.

Identify the oldest stems by their darker, woodier bark. Cut these to the base, leaving the most productive younger growth. Aim to keep eight to twelve well-spaced stems of mixed ages. Remove any diseased or damaged wood entirely, cutting to healthy tissue.