<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n13. Goji Varieties <\/h3>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n14. Pruning and Overwintering Goji Berry Plants <\/h3>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Untipped canes continue to grow, while headed canes produce more lateral branches, and produce higher yields for the grower at harvest time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n