{"id":2414,"date":"2019-06-10T03:13:52","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T03:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2414"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:19:23","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T09:19:23","slug":"14-tips-for-taking-good-care-of-your-own-goji-berry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-tips-for-taking-good-care-of-your-own-goji-berry\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Tips for Taking Good Care of Your Own Goji Berry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Goji berries are one of the best sources of anti-oxidants, and just a cupful of goji berries can give you upwards of 10% of your daily recommended vitamin C intake in one go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While they\u2019ve achieved a lot of popularity over the past ten or so years, goji berry plants have been around for more than five thousand years \u2013 and today, they can be found in gardens all over the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might even want to include goji berry plants in yours: They can be planted either in pots or into the ground with some special preparation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goji berry plants can be grown either from seeds or ideally from existing plants, and they grow happily in most climates with a preference for hotter ones \u2013 but can also thrive in colder areas when the right adaptations are made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 great and easy tips for taking good care of your own goji berry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Selecting a Plant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first step for a gardener who wants to plant a goji berry in their garden is to select a suitable plant to do it with. They can be planted from seeds, but this can set you back for at least three years while you\u2019re waiting for the plant to mature \u2013 and this is what presses most gardeners to instead buy plants that are at least two to three years old and a lot closer to carrying berries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find a local nursery when you\u2019re looking for goji berry plants \u2013 most have them available in a variety of different life stages; if not, there are also many online retailers nowadays which can help you to source plants and have them delivered straight to your door in a matter of days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next step to a happy goji berry plant is preparing the soil, and this can start weeks before you intend on sticking your plant into the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Treating Unsuitable Ground<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Preparing your soil should start a few weeks before you intend on planting, and ideally, you should have a good idea of what you would like to plant where in your garden before you start to prepare the soil at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start off by outlining your garden with a simple piece of paper. On this, mark which areas already have which types of soil \u2013 and which areas are getting the most sun. This can help you to find a suitable spot in which to plant your goji berries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, work through the soil with a gardening fork and remove any twigs or stones from it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, measure the pH of the soil and add some compost to the mixture. Measure again to make sure that it\u2019s closer to the moderate pH level goji berry plants will prefer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After this, it\u2019s not time to plant just yet; goji berry plants need some special preparation before they can be planted in order to get used to the climate or they might just die off. (See tip number 6 for more information on this!)  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Trellis Growing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several different ways in which you can support the growth of a goji berry plant, and it\u2019s generally recommended that you do this especially for the first phases of its life after a transplant \u2013 this becomes truer if you live in an area that has access to a considerable amount of wind that can damage the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re growing your goji berries in pots, then the plant can greatly benefit from having a stick planted next to it and the stem tied to this; the same can be done in the early stages of transplanting a new goji berry plant into the soil, especially in climates that have access to more wind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Few people know that goji berries can also be happily grown on a trellis, and this can guide and support their growth as well as make the final harvesting process a whole lot easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Protecting from Cold<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If there\u2019s one thing that goji berries don\u2019t like, it\u2019s colder temperatures and frost \u2013 and this isn\u2019t unique only to goji berries, but applies to a lot of other plants that are also part of the nightshade family as well as a variety of other different types of berries out there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why a lot of people who find themselves in colder climates will prefer to plant their goji berries in pots instead. This gives you the ability to move your plants around the winter-time and gives them more of a guarantee of surviving the winter cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the winter has passed, you can move the goji berry plant back outside when planted in pots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in a colder area and you planted your berry plants in the ground instead, netting can also help to protect your plants against the cold \u2013 and some barrier plants can help to shield plants against exposure to the wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Growing from Seeds or Not<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even though the majority of gardeners will prefer to start off with already existing berry plants that have made it through at least the first three years of growth just because they don\u2019t want to bother waiting several years, this doesn\u2019t mean that you aren\u2019t able to grow goji berries from seeds \u2013 and if you have the time, growing them from seeds can be greatly rewarding too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to grow goji berries from seeds, then it\u2019s best to order packed seeds from online rather than to grow from seeds that you\u2019ve squeezed from berries \u2013 packed seeds that have been stored right will have a much higher success rate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When growing goji berries from seeds, it can also help a great deal if you germinate the seeds in optimal conditions between tissue paper before transplanting into a pot or into the ground from there. Again, this is bound to guarantee a much higher success rate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Preparing the Plant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Goji berry plants are one of the few plants that you can\u2019t just transplant directly into the ground even if you\u2019ve bought plants that have been going for at least two or three years. In order to thrive when planted into pots or into the ground, it\u2019s best for your goji berry plants to be made used to the climate for at least a period of seven days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is done by keeping the goji berry plant inside first. Make sure that it\u2019s getting access to at least four hours of shade with a little more sunlight \u2013 although keep it away from any exposure to the cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gradually over this week’s period, move the goji berry closer to the outside while increasing the amount of time it spends in these conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of a week, the goji berry plant should be ready to make it into the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Ideal Planting Conditions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Goji berry plants will grow just fine either in the ground or planted in pots, but there are a lot of reasons why you might want to keep them in pots instead \u2013 especially if you live in colder areas, it gives you the freedom to move the plant around when the colder months hit, and it can make sure that you have a much happier plant when the winter is over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you still want to plant your goji berry in the ground from there, the seven-day period is essential to make them used to the climate \u2013 and if you skip this process before you plant them, the odds are the plant won\u2019t be able to survive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideal planting conditions for goji berry plants include soil with a moderate pH level \u2013 too acidic or too alkaline can both hamper growth for the plant. Also make sure that soil drains effectively since even though goji berries tend to love water, they don\u2019t like having their roots submerged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Harvesting Tips and Tricks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It can be said that the harvesting time is the most fun that a gardener can have, and it\u2019s certainly the time that the majority of gardeners will spend most of the year waiting for. When it finally arrives, it\u2019s a sign that you\u2019ve done well in taking care of your garden, and an excellent harvest is always a sign of a happy garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gooseberries, as well as goji berries, are usually best harvested when they\u2019re firm on the tree; too soon and you risk harvesting a bad-tasting, hard berry that\u2019s far from ready \u2013 but too late and you\u2019ll end up with softer ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve ended up with a batch of softer berries, remember that they\u2019re still fine for making jams and preserves instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harder, fresher berries can be kept in the fridge, but should ideally be used for recipes immediately or frozen if you want them to keep for a few months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Goji Berry Companion Plants
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Goji plants have a more productive season if you give them friends to hang out with in the garden. In all seriousness, companion plants are one of the best ways to ensure that your goji experiences less infection with disease and fewer attacks from pests.\u00a0
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When planting the first seeds in your garden, sow a row of marigolds around the perimeter of the garden. Plenty of pests find marigolds repulsive and will take their interests elsewhere before they attempt to have a look inside your garden. 
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Marigolds are an excellent natural barrier, but you can plant other veggies and fruits alongside your goji as well. Radishes, asparagus, tomatoes, potatoes, and beets make suitable companions for goji bushes. Garlic, chives, and chilies are effective at driving off insects, due to the strong fragrance of the bulbs and herbs. 
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Using a natural alternative to pesticides is an excellent way to increase the yield and quality of your crop while adding variety to what you grow in the garden as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. Goji Berry Pests
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For the colder regions of the United States, goji berry pests include insects like the notorious Japanese beetle, famous for boring into the canes of the tress, causing wilt and defoliation. Other common pests include spider mites, weaving webs around the foliage and fruits.
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Aphids and thrip are also problematic in goji, and you’ll need to start inspecting your plants every week for signs of pest damage as summer starts, and the plant begins to produce berries. 
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By far, the biggest threat to your fruit production, are birds. Birds have an affinity for goji berries, and they will return to your tree every morning to strip it bare. 
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A few birds can eat all of the berries in a few days. You may not pay attention to your garden one weekend – And come back on Monday to find birds raided your garden while you were away. Build a wire cage around the plants to prevent birds from stripping the plants bare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Goji Berry Diseases
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Since the goji plant is mostly an imported plant, it’s susceptible to many diseases in gardens across North America. The USDA detected higher concentrations of pesticides and fungicides in commercial goji berry crops using plants imported from China. Therefore, we can say that it’s a better idea to look for goji varieties grown by local breeders. 
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Local breeders manage to improve the plant’s immune response to many pathogens, but goji is still not resistant to plenty of fungal and bacterial problems. Powdery mildew and root rot are a particular concern for goji berry plants, and growers need to be on the lookout for transfer of any pathogens to other nightshades in the garden, such as tomatoes.
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Gardeners that have plants infected with severe fungal diseases, such as blight or root rot, should consider removing the canes from the garden and starting again in a different area. Many pathogens affecting goji will remain in the soil for years afterward.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. Planting in Containers
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Since goji are practically an invasive species \u2013 we like the idea of planting them in separate containers and keeping them away from the rest of the garden. This strategy ensures that you isolate your goji, and don’t draw the attention of insects and pathogens to the rest of your veggies and fruits.\u00a0
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Gojis make excellent pot plants, and we recommend you house them in a container that has a minimum depth of 24-inches. You can place the pot against a lattice attached to a sun-facing wall, and train the goji to improve its reach and yield. Gojis look great on the patio, and they also make a suitable plant for the greenhouse.
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Many growers like to raise gojis in a greenhouse environment because it keeps away pests like rodents and birds while increasing production and berry yield. Growing gojis in a greenhouse allows you to control the growing setting, providing optimal conditions to the plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13. Goji Varieties
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As mentioned, the goji berry is a recently studied plant in the United States. Most commercial goji operations only started in the U.S, less than 20-years ago, making it one of the newer varieties of superfruits to grow in American soils. 
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The only American varieties of the goji berry successfully bred in America, are the ‘Phoenix Tears, and ‘Crimson Star.’ Both types are available to growers looking to start a goji berry tree.
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However, unless you plan on waiting for three to five years for your first crop of berries, we recommend buying a mature tree that yields fruit in its first year of production in your garden. This strategy allows you to avoid disappointment, and get a better look at what your buying, rather than believing a seed packet. 
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Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to be sure about the source of the genetics that you are buying from your local nursery, so have a chat with the manager before you decide to buy a Chinese goji by mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. Pruning and Overwintering Goji Berry Plants
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If you get the planting right and have a productive fruiting season with your goji, then that’s about the best result you can get. When you get a healthy tree that’s well-established, then gojis are a pleasure to grow. They require little maintenance, and if you mulch right, and lay down some straw, you can get away with watering every other day. 
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However, when winter starts closing in, you’ll need to prepare your plant for the coming season, and have them in the best shape to start the new growth and flowering season in the following year. Overwintering gojis is easy, and it begins with a pruning. Prune away any dead canes, and clip all canes that yield fruit that season. Old canes won’t bear berries again, and leaving them on the plant takes energy away from next year’s harvest.
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Untipped canes continue to grow, while headed canes produce more lateral branches, and produce higher yields for the grower at harvest time.
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