Goji Berry Growing Information:
Position
You can grow your goji berries in the garden or in a deep, large pot (at least 50 litres). They thrive in full sun and should be protected from strong winds. However, your plant will still grow in partial shade. Plant them about 1 metre apart from one another, with 1.5 metres between rows of goji berry plants.
Size
They are an unruly shrub usually growing to 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.
Soil Type
Plant your goji berry in 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. So, 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 stock 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 centimetres of pine bark 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 every 4-5 months of our slow-release all-plant fertiliser. The roots will absorb what they need
Pruning
It’s not essential to prune your tree, but makes it easier to harvest the berries. Remove horizontal branches to be a metre long. 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
Your tree will produce its biggest yield in the summer months, from about 4 or 5 years of age. 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.
