How to grow the super-fruit goji berry

Gogi berries (Lycium barbarum) are the latest super fruits. They’re high in antioxidants and nutrients, and several cultures dry the berries and use them for medicinal purposes as well. They are said to support immune function and regulate blood pressure.

Nightshade- family cousins of the tomato, pepper and eggplant, goji berries are surprisingly easy to grow in our region. Their native Asian range includes Russia, China and Japan, climates that are similar enough to our own. With most varieties being hardy down to 40 below zero, these plants can be grown even in the coldest climates. However, they will not thrive in the hot, humid southern United States.

Gogi berries are tough, resilient plants. They’re also quite beautiful when the arching branches are loaded with the bright orange-red fruits.

Reaching a height of 8 to 10 feet and width of 3 to 5 feet, the shrubs vase-like shape is covered with bright purple, trumpet-shaped flowers every spring. Even if you don’t harvest a single berry, the plant itself makes a lovely statement in the garden.

Goji berry plants can be found from many online retailers. You may be able to find young plants as bare-root specimens that are inexpensive to ship and purchase when in a dormant state.

If you decide to grow this great plant, choose a spot with full sun and well-drained soil. Six to 8 hours of sun is ideal. This adaptable plant does well in less-than-ideal conditions, too.

Ideally, you should plant two or more different goji berry varieties to encourage good cross-pollination. Like other fruiting plants, the presence of other varieties improves fruit set and fruit size as well. Most varieties of goji are self-pollinating, so they will produce fruits on their own, however, you’ll have better results with multiple varieties close to each other.

There are many different goji cultivars, including “Big Lifeberry,” “Vermillion Sunset” and “Crimson Star.”

The berries develop on new wood, meaning the flowers appear on stems that are formed earlier that season, or perhaps the autumn before. Because of this, it’s best to prune gogi berries in the dormant season to encourage new growth in the spring.

To harvest goji berries, wait for them to fully ripen, then place a blanket under the plant and knock the berries off the shrub. If they don’t drop easily, wait a few days and try again. Most often used as a dried berry, gojis are then left to fully dry on screens in warm, dry rooms, or in a food dehydrator. You can also juice the fresh berries immediately after harvest. I’ve tried eating them fresh off the plant, but the flavor isn’t sweet or particularly inviting. It’s much better to enjoy them dried or juiced.