Description
The Goji Berry is usually kept at a height of between 1 and 1.8 metres tall. However, trees that are left to grow without being pruned can reach a height of more than 3.5 metres. It needs to be staked for the first 2 years, and is often trained as espalier.
Fruits are produced in the summer months and the shrub will produce its biggest yields when its is about 4 or 5 years of age. Goji berries are considered to be a ‘super food’ because of their high vitamin and mineral content. The fresher the berries the healthier they are. They must be harvested when fully ripe as only then are they palatable. The leaves make a lovely salad ingredient.
Position
You can grow your goji berries in the garden or in a deep, large pot (at least 50 litres).
The Goji Berry is heat and frost tolerant, and thrives in full sun, but will still grow in partial shade. The plants need to be staked for the first 2 years and should be protected from strong winds.
Plant them about 1 metre apart from one another, with 1.5 metres between rows of goji berry plants.
Soil Type
Plant your goji berry in alkaline soil with a pH of between 7.0 and 8.1. This plant needs well-draining soil, not soil that retains too much water and becomes soggy. Therefore, sandy or loamy soil works best. This also allows the roots to extend deep down into the looser-packed soil (compared to clay).
Do NOT use a peat-based potting mix. If you are not planting your bush in the ground, simply use a standard inexpensive potting mix (i.e. NOT Miracle Grow, Moisture Control or similar).
If you are planting in containers, only use plain topsoil with a little perlite or take soil from your yard. DO NOT USE pre-made potting soils because almost all of these contain peat moss.
We recommend using our Volcanic Rock Dust, which contains organic minerals and trace elements to boost soil health and increase important micro-organisms that are essential for healthy soil.
Mulch
Mulch is a good way of preventing weeds and reducing the rate of water evaporation from the soil.
Apply organic mulch to your tree all year round. Use from 2 to 5 cm of mulch to protect the roots from UV damage and drying out. It retains moisture, and maintains an optimal pH. Do not let the mulch touch the plant stem, as it may cause infection or rot.
Watering
These are hardy plants, resistant to drought once they are mature and settled. But, for the best results, keep the soil moist. Water your tree with 2.5 to 5 centimetres of water once a week.
Fertilising
Apply 1 teaspoon of our slow-release Berry/All-plant Fertiliser every 4-5 months .
Pruning
It’s not essential to prune your tree, but pruning makes it easier to harvest the berries. Shorten horizontal branches to a length of 1m. This promotes growth and creates a dense, healthy tree that produces lots of juicy berries. Remove dead or diseased shoots and branches too, and thin the tree out after fruiting season so that all of the resources go to productive, healthy limbs.
Harvesting
The fruit ripens from orange to a vivid, bright red colour. Either enjoy the berries straight off the tree or place them in the refrigerator immediately after picking them to extend their life to about a week. They freeze well if you’d like to use them for smoothies, preserves, and desserts at a later time.
