Interesting Facts
Goji berries are also known as “Wolfberries” or “Duke of Argyll’s Tea-tree.
They are native to China where they have been cultivated for over 4,000 years in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China. Since ancient times they have been revered as a supremely healthy snack, , and in Ningxia Province, which produces a large share of China’s goji berries for export, a goji berry festival is held each August to celebrate the annual harvest.
Description
The plant is a sprawling shrub or small tree with long, flexible canes and clusters if small greyish to green leaves. The purple flowers appear in late spring to early summer, giving way to the small fruits which mature to a bright red in late summer and autumn.
Goji berry plants are deciduous and lose their leaves during winter in colder areas. In warmer regions the plants might grow all year round.
How large do goji berry plants grow?
If left unpruned the Goji berry plant grows into a large shrub, reaching heights of 2.5 to 3m, with vines that can reach up to 2 meters or more. Pruning the main stem and branches will keep the plant shorter and thicker, helping with increased flowering and fruit production.
Are goji berry plants self-pollinating?
Plants are self-pollinating, so you can have just one in the garden.
How long do goji berry plants take to produce fruit?
The plant begins flowering in its second year of growth, with maximum fruit production in the fourth to fifth year.
What do Goji Berries taste like?
Fully ripe fruit is rather sweet with a lovely tart undertone, making goji berries great for both sweet and savoury dishes.
When are Goji Berries harvested?
Goji berries are typically ready to harvest in late summer or early autumn, depending on the climate and growing conditions. When the berries are ready, they should be a bright red colour but still firm to the touch.
How to harvest Goji Berries
The fruit can turn black when handled roughly, so consider harvesting by shaking the berries gently from the plant onto a sheet placed beneath, or pulling the berries off the plant gently by hand.
How to use Goji Berries in the kitchen?
Apart from eating them fresh right off the bushes, the fresh fruit is added to smoothies and other drinks. Many health snacks also feature these little red fruits. You can also use them in soups and teas, toss them over salads and yogurt, or turn them into a great jam.
Fruit can also be dried with a dehydrator at around 35°C. It will take approximately 3 days. Drying at higher temperatures can destroy some of the nutrients. They can also be placed on outdoor drying racks for sun drying. Berries are sufficiently dry when they reach a raisin-like consistency.
They should be stored in airtight containers in a cool, dry environment.
The leaves and young stems can be harvested and easily stripped to be used in salads, soups, or teas. Leaves from the vines can be dried and stored, and dried leaves and stems can also be blended into a powder.
What are the health benefits of Goji Berries?
Goji berries have become a popular superfood as they provide several health advantages including high quantities of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants which help the body fight free radicals, strengthening the body’s defence system. Plus, they're full of iron, fibre, vitamins A and C, and other good things for your body.
Nutrient values change slightly as fruit ripens from orange to bright red, and also when dried. The leaves and tender young stems are also nutrient loaded.
Root bark is known to be antibacterial, hypoglycaemic, assist with hepatic encephalopathy and has been used to treat hypertension and diabetes. Root bark is best harvested in early spring. The bark is peeled from the roots and then dried.
Always consult with your health care provider before embarking on a home treatment programme.
Cultivation:
If you love fresh goji berries you will be pleased to know that cultivating them is simple and fulfilling. You can grow goji berry plants in the ground or in pots, so they can even be used in small areas like patios or porches. Just make sure the spot gets a lot of sun and has soil that doesn't stay soggy.
How hardy are Goji Berries?
The goji berry plant is famous for being both cold and heat tolerant, and it thrives in a wide range of soils and climatic conditions.
It is hardy and once established can survive temperatures as low as
-40 to -38°C.
It will tolerate wind, and salt-laden air in coastal gardens, as well as drought.
How much sun do Goji Berries need?
The plants grow and fruit well in full sun but will also tolerate part shade. A spot that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunshine a day is best.
What soil type do Goji Berries require?
The goji berry likes well-drained soils that don't stay soggy, so avoid planting them in places where rain water tends to pool.
Sandy or loamy soils work best, as they allow the roots to extend deep down into the looser-packed soil (compared to clay).
Although Goji can be grown in a wide range of pH levels from 6.5 to 8.5, optimum growth is best at a pH level between 7.0 and 8.2, which is alkaline.
Adjusting the pH of your soil can have dramatic effects on the growth of your plants, especially if your soil is quite acidic.
Adding agricultural dolomitic lime to soil in the planting holes a week or two before planting, and watering it in well, is an excellent way to increase some micronutrients such as calcium and magnesium in the soil, while ensuring that the pH is in a good range for optimal nutrient uptake.
How to plant Goji Berries?
For established seedlings or plants, dig a hole that’s about twice the size of the plant’s root ball. Gently remove the plant from its container, place it in the hole, and backfill with soil. Do not add fertilisers as too much fertiliser can burn the roots.
If you’re planting multiple Goji berry plants, plant them about 1 metre apart from one another, with 1.5 metres between the rows. This will allow for proper air circulation and growth.
Can Goji Berries grow in pots?
Goji will also grow and fruit well in a container, just be sure to choose one large enough. Your pot should be at least 40cm in diameter and 50cm high. Make sure the container has drainage holes, and do not let the pots stand in drip trays filled with water.
DO NOT USE pre-made potting soils because almost all of these contain peat moss, which is acidic. If you are planting into pots, only use plain topsoil with a little perlite, or take soil from your garden.
How much water do Goji Berries need?
Care must be taken to keep the soil moist with new plantings, and especially when young plants are transplanted in the summer.
Once established the plants are drought resistant, but in the garden Goji berry trees love regular watering, especially during hot and dry weather. However, being in soggy soil bothers them. The trick is to water very deeply and then to let the soil dry out before watering again. This will encourage deep, strong roots and healthy plants.
Must Goji Berry trees be fertilised?
If you add organic compost and mulch your plants twice a year in spring and autumn, this should provide sufficient nutrients needed for healthy growth and fruit production.
Volcanic Rock Dust, which contains organic minerals and trace elements will boost soil health and increase important micro-organisms that are essential for healthy soil.
There are also good complete organic fertilisers on the market which work well. However, care must be taken to follow the application directions as too much fertiliser can burn the roots. Avoid using synthetic fertilisers, as they can burn the plant.
How to prune and train goji berry plants
Because fruit is borne on the current year’s wood which is grown in spring and autumn, the goals of pruning are to limit plant height to improve ease of harvest, encourage light penetration into the plant, and to encourage formation of lateral branches to maximize fruit production.
Canes that are un-tipped will continue to grow and produce few lateral branches, while canes that are headed back will produce more laterals and higher yields
Pruning is done during the dormant season in winter to remove spindly canes, all dead and damaged wood, and to improve plant shape and shorten the laterals. This is also a good time to remove some of the oldest wood.
Old shrubs can be ruthlessly renovated in early spring by reducing the plant to a low framework of branches, or by cutting down close to the base of the plant. This will cause vigorous re-growth, but will initially reduce the fruiting.
During summer lighter pruning is done to head back growth and encourage lateral formation. One of the most important goals of pruning is to produce an open canopy structure that allows plenty of sunlight through to all parts of the plant.
For maximum fruiting, many gardeners train their plants horizontally against a wall or fence (espalier), tying the lax stems onto wires.
Problems, Pests & Diseases:
Goji berry plants are not affected by many pests and diseases although birds and other wildlife that feed on berries may be attracted.
Like most plants they can fall prey to bug infestations of aphids, spider mites, and other common garden pests. Neem oil or an insecticidal soap is usually sufficient to control most common garden pests.
If they’re kept too damp goji berry plants are also susceptible to fungal diseases. To reduce the risk, avoid over-watering and make sure the soil has good drainage. Remove any diseased plant portions and treat with an organic fungicide if you spot any indicators of disease.