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When to Plant Jostaberry in Tehama County, CA

Jostaberry is a thornless hybrid of black currant and gooseberry, producing medium-sized, dark berries with a complex, tart-sweet flavor. It is vigorous and disease-resistant.

Tehama County, California is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 6 and the first fall frost is November 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 267 days.

At an elevation of 78 feet, Tehama County receives approximately 44 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Jostaberry to ensure they mature before fall.

Tehama County, CA (Zone 8b) Long season
267 days
Last Spring Frost March 6
267 growing days
First Fall Frost November 28

Tehama County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Mar 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Mar 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 9

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 878 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Jostaberry needs ~10,494 GDD — county provides 3,070 GDD May not mature

Jostaberry Planting Timeline โ€” Tehama County, CA

Jostaberry Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors March 27 Mar 27 โ€“ Apr 10

ยท 48" apart ยท Rows 72" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Transplant Outdoors
April Transplant Outdoors
May โ€”
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

730โ€“1095 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 6.5

USDA Zone

Zone 8b

Growing Season

267 days

Growing Tips for Tehama County

Plant in rich, well-drained soil. No special pruning required beyond removing old wood. Self-fertile but yields improve with a second bush. Berries ripen midsummer.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Jostaberry in Tehama County, CA?

Tehama County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 6. Plan your Jostaberry planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Tehama County, CA?

Tehama County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 6 and first fall frost is November 28.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Tehama County gardeners in Zone 8b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Tehama County, CA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.