Goji Berry Update
I receive plenty of comments, questions, and feedback to an earlier post about Growing Goji Berries so I thought it was about time for an update on the progress of my Goji Berry plants.
I would also recommend that anyone interested in the topic browse the Goji Berry comments for advice and helpful information provided by other backyard Goji Berry growers.
Goji Berry Trials…
To begin my Goji Berry trial update, I have to admit that the Goji Berry plants that were originally planted last fall did not survive the winter and had to be replaced this spring. I’m not sure what went wrong as I followed the planting instructions supplied by the grower (really, I did!!), and planted them in the ground shortly after they arrived late last fall.
Fortunately after sending a brief e-mail, Timpanogos Nursery was kind enough to replace the Goji seedlings with a couple of their spring potted nursery stock. I received these Goji plants in May and planted them in the same location as the previous plants.
The planting was a lot easier the second time around since I didn’t have to cope with removing sod and excavating hard packed soil. As it turns out things wouldn’t go quite as smoothly for the new Goji Berry seedlings themselves.
… and Goji Berry Tribulations
Once planted, the most important responsibility is to keep the Goji seedlings well watered until they recover from being shipped and transplanted, and are established in their new home in the garden. This was especially critical because at the time we were experiencing warmer than normal weather and very little rainfall.
One morning as I went down to water one of the plants I was shocked to discover Goji Berry leaves scattered about and nothing but a short stump where the day before stood a healthy green Goji plant.
My first thought was to remember a comment from another gardener who had a similar experience with Goji Berries being devoured by some unknown attacker. The second thought that quickly crossed my mind was for revenge as I eyed a small bunny nearby with a guilty look on his face and what I imagined to be a Goji Berry leaf dangling from its mouth.
Goji Plant Security Detail
Despite the previous warning I never would have expected that anything would find young Goji plants to be such a delicacy. The plant had been staked and surrounded by a cylinder of wire garden fencing but that obviously wasn’t enough to protect the seedling from a hungry or mischievous critter.
I didn’t hold out much hope for the survival of the Goji plant but I decided to continue watering and stepped up the security by employing a double layer of fencing with straw in between to both camouflage and help conserve moisture for what remained of the Goji Berry.
The second Goji is located in a more exposed area of the yard and despite noticing other rabbits in the vicinity, this plant was never bothered even though something did remove and trample the fencing that guarded it.
The lesson that I learned the hard way is that if your goji plants are growing in rabbit, deer, or groundhog territory it’s a good idea to provide the appropriate protection to your young seedlings.
State of the Goji Berries
I have been able to cut back on the amount of watering, and both of the Goji Berry Plants are alive and well. There have been no further attacks and I’ve reduced the threat alert levels as the plants continue to grow and become stronger.
Despite its severe pruning down to the ground, the Goji Berry plant that was eaten has managed to fully recover and rebound with substantial new growth. The funny thing is that it actually looks larger and healthier than the other goji plant that suffered no setbacks.
Not that I’m going to give any credit or thanks to the bunny that I suspect of doing the damage, but I guess the pruning wasn’t entirely bad after all and the Goji plants may be more resilient than the winter-kill experience led me to believe.
The plants are still less than a foot tall, and while I’m not counting on harvesting fresh goji berries anytime soon my Goji Berry plants are showing promises of adapting to my climate and growing into the ornamental, edible, and health promoting plant that I anticipated when I first planted them in the garden!
Other Related Vegetable Gardening Posts:
- Winter Care Tips for Goji Berry Plants
- Goji Berry Plants
- Vanshing Pepper Plants
- Enjoying Elderberries
- Vegetable Gardening Rules Just Made to be Broken
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June 21st, 2007 at 6:59 am
I planted my goji in soil that drained too well and they looked forlorn until I installed a soaker hose. My problem is the Flea Beetles drilling thousands of tiny holes in the leaves. Maybe we should use these plants as salad, since the critters love them!! (Did you know that Sugar Snap Pea plants are even more delicious than the peas?) One of my Gojis lost all it pale leaves and now is sprouting dark green ones. I garden organically and need advice on dealing with beetles.
Thanks,
Dale
June 21st, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Funny you should mention flea beetles, there’s an entry in the works that discusses them and will be posted in the next couple of days. So far they have not bothered my goji berry plants at all. Yes, I did know that pea sprouts are edible and tasty. The young tips of the plants are crisp and sweet with the same flavor that the pods offer.
June 23rd, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Hi, I got the goji berry plant from the same source that you have. I have planted it indoors, it all seemed very alive until recently. Half of the goji plant’s leaves have fallen off leaving the branch bare. The other goji leaves seem to be very spindly. Is there anything I can do?
June 23rd, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Steve, I’m not sure what the problem is with your goji berry plant. According to the grower they are suitable for growing indoors in containers. Is you plant receiving enough sunlight? Are you sure that you haven’t been over watering the goji plant? Good luck and let me know how you make out with growing your goji berry plant indoors.
July 25th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Hi Kenny, Back again about my couple hundred goji berry plants. I am in the process of applying for a grant to grow commercially. Any suggestions or info would be most welcomed. Also if you have any suggestions for organic aphid control this would also be helpful. For growing: When overwatered a little these goji plants will begin to yellow quickly and will lose leaves everywhere. It is really hot here during the day so I keep the plants in a shaded area outside (continually) in the one gallon containers. When exposed to this full hot sun they begin to droop quickly. As they are still only 7 months old. Mine are between 1 to 3 feet tall now and have really shot up. As for my couple hundred here, I still need to learn how to package for shipping as I will likely be selling some of them next spring. I began growing these thru the winter and as I mentioned , I had a couple thousand healthy little goji berry plants but due only to lack of space I could transplant just that couple hundred mentioned. My hopes are to get a greenhouse up to grow quite a few more thru the winter and begin selling them the following year. As for growing indoors, goji berries require both window and artificial lighting together for me. My plants are from the wild variety and therefore vary greatly in size, shape, and growth rate. Thank you for your info on the winter delivered plants. I was really wondering about that as spring planting allows the roots to fully establish themselves. The recommended fertilizer is a bit spendy for my blood, do you have any alternative suggestions? If you decide to begin goji plants from seed they are “EXTREMELY FRAGILE” and require constant monitoring of watering and temperature control. It is a real pain, unless you are so lucky as to have everything automated. I would be happy to share photos if you like. Are yours still doing well with the summer heat? Best of luck!
July 27th, 2007 at 10:18 am
ATTN: I want to grow phalsa in GA, but i can not find small trees to grow can you help me? Phalsa is kind of berry its easily grow in India and Pakistan southern.
Thank you
July 27th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Phalsa is a small blueberry like fruit that is not common or grown commercially. I don’t know of any sources of seeds or plants but you could check with the California Rare Fruit Growers. Or if you find some of the fruits you can remove the seed and grow the phalsa just like you would a goji berry plant from seed.
September 23rd, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Hi Kenny,
Just wanted to let you know that I received my Goji berry plant it was all but dead. I transplanted the pitifull looking thing in a pot with organic composted soil and worm castings. I also fertilized it with Seawater and put it in the sun. Well, to make a long story short the plant grew 3 inches in 5 days and is well formed and spreading out now.
I am not going to plant it in the ground until next year.
I wish you well with your plants.
October 9th, 2007 at 12:19 am
Hey I started growing my gojo berry plants from seeds, and They sprouted to about an inch in 3 weeks, but now half of them are dying off! I kept them in doors, getting a mixture of sun light and uv rays, and I water them daily, but I don’t over water-just enough to keep the soil moist. Is there anything you’d recommend? A specific light brand? how much water? How do I save these before it’s too late?
October 9th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Thomas, I have not grown Goji Plants from seed but Timpanogos Nursery recommends that the goji seedlings be fed with a dose of compost when 2″ tall. If you don’t have access to well aged compost I would fertilize the goji plants with a diluted dose of a balanced organic fertilizer in its water. The seedlings should be carefully transplanted into individual containers when they are about 3″ tall but before they reach 5″ in height. The use of special plant grow lights is suggested for plants grown indoors. I have heard from other home gardeners that the goji seedlings can be delicate and a little temperamental.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
For those who are interested in growing goji plants:
Every year around late spring or early summer, just visit the Chinese grocery stores and you can find goji plant cuttings in bundles for sale. Buy a bundle and use all the fresh leaves for soup, then cut the stems in sections about 5 or 6 inches each. Find a sunny spot in your backyard and put the bottom end of stems about 2 inches in soil, water regularly. You will have a goji garden in no time. Goji plants need 4 season climate because they need to dorman in winter in order to grow so put them indoor all year will not servive well. If you grow goji by this ‘cutting’ method, you’ll have a lot of goji berries the following year. But if you take the ’seed’ method, you will not get berries until 3 or 4 year later.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
This message is for Rob.
Have you tried Repell all made by Bonide to repell all critters? Also use Messenger - harpon protein to boost plants immune system avail Mesenger.info for all plants.
Hope it helps.
Polina
May 9th, 2008 at 3:36 am
Hello, I don’t consider myself much of a gardener but I did purchase a Goji plant last spring from Timpanogos Nursery and plant it in unamended clayish soil. Since I live in southern MN I wasn’t sure if it would survive our winter. Timpanogos website said it was hardy to about -15F I believe. The plant is about 2 ft tall and starting to leaf out. We had about 3 or 4 days of -22F and several days of -15 to -17F. Hoping to see berries this year. I think our early heavy snowfall helped by insulating the ground. That doesn’t always happen here.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:50 am
In addition to responses from Jeff Poon, I took about 12 cuttings from my 2 year old Goji about a week ago. I purchased some rooting hormone and a seed starting dome with peat pots. It has been about a week and it looks like out of the 12 I will have 11 new goji plants. This is 100 times easier than starting plants from seed. I also have 50 seeds started in the same peat pot domes and so far I have 12 plants starting from seed. I now need to find somewhere to place 20+ goji plants, possibly more.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I live in NJ and have a tough time locating asian stores in the area…the one near me does not have goji berry plants , only dried berries.
Need help!.;-)
May 29th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Hey Corey, how about creating a goji berry hedge? You’re spoiling a surprise I’ve been planning on writing an article about just how easy it is to propagate goji berry plants from cuttings!
Well at least you’re confirming my secret sources regarding the goji berry cuttings! 
Polina, there’s a link in the article above to a grower that would be happy to sell you a goji berry plant. Or you can look for someone like Corey that has more goji berry plants than he knows what to do with. Also those dried berries at the Asian Market are just loaded with goji berry seeds that will have no difficulty germinating if you just plant them in soil.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Corey, can I get a goji berry plant or 2 from you?
Looks like you have too many…;-)
Do let me know.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
For those who are interested in growing goji berry hedge:
Goji berry is a perfect plant for hedge as its hardy and fast growing. As a matter of fact I have had mine for three year all around the boundry of my backyard. It’s very green and bushy. I created it from cuttings (Please read my previous article). I had a lot of berries last year that lasted me almost a year. What I did was I picked the berries and dried them with a dehydrator (about $40) from Walmart. Then I used a coffee bean grinder to turn them into fine powder. Everyday I mix one teaspoon of goji powder with a cup of hot water and honey. Guess what? By chance I think last year it cured my hayfever which I have had every year from September To November for the past 20 years. I am pretty sure it’s the goji but not 100 percent yet. I’ll just have to wait if the goji will help to rid my hayfever again this September. Wish me luck. I’ll keep you guys posted later this year.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Jeff, very interesting information.
You, guys got me all excited about growing it. If only I could get a cutting from someone, so I can get it growing this season.
Any volunteers?
May 29th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
To Polina,
I am pretty sure that if you go to New York Chinatown early this summer, you’ll have no problem finding them. Chinese people use them for soup. Here in Toronto, we find it easily in Chinese Grocery Store durint summer. Hope this help.
Jeff