How To Grow And Care For Goji Berry Plant
Do you like berries? Or do you want to have a plant in your garden that you can use in a multitude of recipes and have a lot of health benefits? Well, then growing the goji berry plant is what you should go for.
The goji berry plant is popular among folks for its amazing taste and easy to grow profile. What’s even amazing about the goji berry is that you can choose from numerous goji berry recipes for yourself. It is an edible type of berry which allows for a number of recipe options. In addition to this, the goji berry benefits for health are also something that will motivate you to get and grow this plant ASAP.
In the article, we have prepared a complete guide for you on how to grow the goji berry plant. We will also explain the harvesting methods to you in the article.
How To Plant Goji Berry Plant?
For growing the goji berry, you can use the seeds, or you can purchase the plants directly from a nursery.
Follow these steps for growing the goji berry:
Pick The Site
When picking up the site for the goji berry plants, you should remember that it thrives best in partial shade locations. In case you are planting more than one plant, then you will need to keep a distance of at least five feet between them.
Preparing The Site For Goji Berry
The goji berry plant requires soil which provides it with good drainage. It prefers the soil with a pH balance between 6.5 to 8.0. You also need to amend the soil with organic matters like compost before you go for planting.
Trellis
For the goji berry plants, you will also need to prepare trellis as it will ensure that they grow in an upright pose. This not only helps in maintaining the picture but also helps in good airflow and harvesting.
Plant
You need to plant the goji berry during the early spring season when the tail end of the plant is dormant. For planting it dig a hole that is double the size of the root ball and then place the plant inside it. In doing this, ensure that the rootstock is in ground levels. Now spread the roots and then fill back the ditch. After t slowly tamp the ground to seal it.
Watering
To help the roots to establish better, you will need to deeply water the plantation area around the goji berry.
These are some of the tips which you need to follow for goring goji berries.
How To Care For Goji Berry?
After growing goji berries, they require constant watering, pest control, and pruning for thriving. Follow these steps for better care;
Watering
The goji berry plant is one of the most drought-tolerant types of plant which you can get in the fruit trees. However, it is possible only after it establishes its roots well. To avoid any problems, you will need to water it thoroughly in the first year of planting it. However, remember not to overwater it as it may lead to rotting of roots and prevent the bloom.
Pruning
The goji berry plant requires light pruning on a regular basis. This helps in keeping the overgrowth in check while encouraging new and healthy growth. Regular pruning also helps in discouraging the problems like powdery mildew as it allows for better air circulation. In pruning, clear away any kind of suckers and remove any broken or dead branches.
Mulching
For better growth, apply a layer of mulching around the base of the goji berry plant. This will help in keeping the weeds in control while maintaining the moisture.
Pest Control
Some of the common pests which may harm the goji berry plant include:
- Spider mites.
- Aphids.
- Thrips.
For controlling the pests, remove any infected leaves and the areas from the plant. Other than this, you can also introduce some natural predators on the plant, like ladybugs. In addition to this, you can also go for solutions like companion plantations.
These are some of the care tips which you need to follow for the goji berry plant.
Harvesting Goji Berry
The goji berry ripes between the months of July and October. Follow these steps for harvesting the goji berries;
- To harvest, you can directly pluck the fresh berries from the plant.
- You can also spread a cloth or net under the plant and then gently shake it. This will lead to the falling down of ripen berries from the plant.
- The leaves of the goji berry are also edible, and thus you can also harvest them.
- Using the fruit and leaves of this plant, you can try a number of recipes.
These are some of the growing, caring, and harvesting tips for the goji berry plant which you need to follow. The tips which we have mentioned above will help in having a healthy plant and good harvest.
Final Words
Do you want to have some health beneficial plant in your garden? If yes, then the goji berry plant is perfect for you as the goji berry benefits are known among health enthusiasts.
The good thing about the goji berry plant is that it is easy to grow and care for. This plant harvesting is also an easy affair, and thus you can have this in your garden.