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Does anyone grow these? I've just had a long conversation with my mum about them - and both of us are greeting with puzzled looks when mentioning them to anyone outside the family! Theres a huge worcesterberry bush in her garden, planted by my grandad. I've never seen another one in Ireland, anyway.

Well... I've heard of them at least... but haven't grown them.

http://www.goforgoachers.co.uk/new_page_5.htm

Are they not like red gooseberries? I seem to recall ma and pa having some in the garden and was sure they were a cross between a blackie and a goosegog?

no i think they're a cross between a blackcurrant and a goosegog.

Ness wrote:no i think they're a cross between a blackcurrant and a goosegog.

thats what i said

doh! in my world blackies are blackberries!

The cross between blackcurrants and gooseberries is being sold as Jostaberry - comes from the German (Jo for Johannisbeere, and Sta for Stachelbeere). But of course it's quite possible that there is another name for them, too!

This is the first thing I found on Google:

" Jostaberry is a true hybrid, the product of a complex breeding programme by Dr. R. Bauer of the Max Plank Institute in Cologne.

It was released to the public in 1977. Basically it is a blackcurrant/gooseberry/ribes divericatum hybrid.

The bushes are vigorous, upright and spineless. Unlike other currants the leaves have no scent. It flowers early and often suffers from frost damage. It is resistant to American gooseberry mildew, gall mite, blackcurrant leaf spot and the white pine blister ant. The black fruits are carried 2 to 5 on short strings, are very rich in Vitamin C and make good jam.

The Worcester berry, on the other hand, is a distinct species, ribes divericatum. It makes a vigorous, huge and very spiny bush and is resistant to American gooseberry mildew and big bud mite. It suffers a very odd magnesium deficiency on poor wet soils. The fruit are medium-small dark red to blackish and take a long time to ripen fully. When really ripe they are quite pleasant raw, but better for jam etc.

The crosses between blackcurrants and gooseberries are sterile and spineless. Neither of the two berries are proof against gooseberry sawfly.

Sally Cunningham Dip Hort (RHS)"

Ness wrote:doh! in my world blackies are blackberries!

I wondered after I went away if that was the problem regional difference strike again As long as we're on about the same thing