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Plant Goji Berries – How it Works

Planting a goji berry in the garden is easy. Nevertheless, you need staying power because the first harvest is a long time coming. But it’s worth it: dried berries are a popular ingredient in smoothies and mueslis, but they also taste delicious fresh, especially from your own garden.

This is what you need to know before planting your goji berries

The goji berry originally comes from China, but it also copes wonderfully with the climatic conditions in this country. The shrub, also known as wolfberry or wolfberry, can grow up to three meters high and blooms with purple flowers from June to August. This then develops into the orange-red berries, which have been voted superfood thanks to the many healthy ingredients.

  • The different varieties of goji berries are divided into two groups. The first group consists of orange-red, grooved fruits, which are characterized by their mild flavor and are ideal for raw consumption. These include the varieties NQ1, L22, and Turgidus. These were also bred by botanists so that they are more resistant to diseases than those in the second group.
  • The second group has bright red fruits that are also sweet – trying to breed out the tart taste of the berries. The varieties are called, for example, Big & Sweet, Korean Big, Instant Success, and Sweet Lineberry. They are bred to produce the largest possible harvest.
  • The shrub bears fruit for the first time three years after it was planted.
  • Since the fruits ripen gradually, the harvest period extends over six to eight weeks. In some cases, the first fruits are ripe from mid-August, but the harvest can also extend into October.

Location, soil, and planting

You should choose a sunny, airy spot in your garden for your own goji berries. Otherwise, powdery mildew can quickly develop. The soil should be humus, permeable, and sufficiently moist. To meet these conditions, you can help by mixing the soil with a part of sand and humus.

  • In such ideal conditions, the plant grows vigorously and forms many runners, so each shrub needs enough space, about 1 m² is ideal here.
  • The best planting time is from March to May. Theoretically, the goji berry can be planted all year round, as long as the ground is not frozen.
  • If you want to put your plant in the garden, you should dig a 40 cm deep planting hole, then add organic fertilizer such as compost, place the plant in the hole, and finally fill everything with soil.
  • It is advisable to create a watering wall because the plant has to be watered frequently, especially in the beginning. You should also do this in plenty immediately after planting.
  • Goji berries also grow very well in pots. The shrub remains smaller, but it still bears plenty of berries.
  • However, the bucket should be large enough and have drainage holes.
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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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