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When to Plant Jostaberry in Blaine County, ID

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.

Blaine County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost is October 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 138 days.

At an elevation of 7,128 feet, Blaine County receives approximately 17.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Jostaberry to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Jostaberry successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Blaine County, ID (Zone 5a) Short season
138 days
Last Spring Frost May 18
138 growing days
First Fall Frost October 3

Blaine County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Jun 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Jul 2

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
0.5″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,122 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Jostaberry needs ~11,862 GDD — county provides 1,794 GDD May not mature

Jostaberry Planting Timeline โ€” Blaine County, ID

Jostaberry Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors June 8 Jun 8 โ€“ Jun 22

ยท 48" apart ยท Rows 72" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May โ€”
June Transplant Outdoors
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 5a

Growing Season

138 days

Growing Tips for Blaine 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 Blaine County, ID?

Blaine County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 18. Plan your Jostaberry planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Blaine County, ID?

Blaine County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 18 and first fall frost is October 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Blaine County gardeners in Zone 5a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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