Goji berries have gained great popularity among those who want to lose weight or normalize their digestive system. These berries also contain a whole cocktail of various vitamins and minerals that help improve the body’s condition and enhance immunity. Goji berries can be bought in an online store, but not everyone knows that they can be grown at home - on a windowsill. And if you want to be sure that what you have in front of you is goji berries, growing them in a city apartment or house will be the best protection against counterfeiting.
Goji berries - growing from seeds
Goji berry seeds can be ordered online or extracted from the berries themselves. To do this, it is better to soak dried fruits in water, since the seed itself is very small, about 1 mm in size, and the pulp of the berry is quite sticky.
Soak the goji berries you plan to grow in water with a growth bioregulator. At the same time, water should not completely cover the seeds - they need oxygen.
Then prepare a box with soil consisting of equal proportions of soil, river sand and peat. The seeds are planted to a depth of 2 mm or simply lightly crushed with soil on top. Optimal temperature for good shoots – 25 degrees. Make sure there are no differences of more than 10 degrees, drafts and direct sunlight. Until the seeds have sprouted, the box with them is covered with cling film, which is removed only at night.
When the seeds sprout, wait until a few leaves appear on them, and only then replant them in pots that should be deep enough, because the root system of such a bush develops very quickly.
Goji berries - cultivation and care
It is necessary to replant the future bush as follows: prepare a deep hole in which to place the plant. Sprinkle it with soil and fertilizer on top, and then water it. Additionally, place peat on top. Tie the seedling itself to a support so that it does not fall.
Water about once a week, but make sure that the soil does not dry out. In between waterings, spray the bush with water from a spray bottle. As it grows, periodically trim the branches so that the bush grows more densely.
If you want to get high-quality goji berries, growing and caring for the plant should include certain activities in winter period. At this time, the shrub needs to provide a temperature of about 10 degrees Celsius. Also during this period, the soil in the pot is sprinkled with sawdust to protect the roots from hypothermia, and dead branches are cut off.
“Treatment with celandine at home” - read the article.
Goji berries: growing at home
At home, the bush produces its first fruits in the fourth year, so you should be patient. Berries can be collected from late summer to early autumn. It was also noted that the older the plant, the tastier and sweeter the fruits. Of course, if you have a strong desire to receive fresh goji berries right in your city apartment, growing them at home will become optimal solution. But, nevertheless, the berries may differ slightly in taste qualities from those who grew up in the homeland of this bush - in China.
The fruits of the plant will resemble the shape of sea buckthorn berries, and during the flowering period the bush will decorate your home with purple-pink flowers. When preparing to harvest, remember that goji branches have thorns that can easily injure you. Therefore, it is necessary to wear gloves on your hands that can protect you from the juice of fresh berries, because it can cause irritation on the skin. The berries are simply shaken off onto an oilcloth laid under the bush. Experts also advise waiting until the fruits are fully ripened, when the berries turn bright red. Unripe fruits can cause poisoning. Dry goji in the shade without using an oven or oven. When the skin of the berries begins to peel off, they are ready to eat.
There are few people who have never heard of goji berries. Over the past few years, Internet sites have been filled with attractive advertisements for this “miracle from the East.” Goji is often promoted as a "magic" natural remedy for weight loss, but the plant is also known to contain many invaluable micronutrients, useful to the body person.
But is it really necessary to constantly buy them for decent money in order to eat goji berries? After all, conditions for growing this miracle plant can be created in Russia. Anyone who wants to try goji as a means of losing weight, is looking for a source of microelements and vitamins, or simply wants to diversify country cottage area some unusual plant, it will certainly be interesting to know what a goji berry is, planting, growing and caring for which is quite possible on Russian soil.
Eastern miracle
Tibet is considered the birthplace of the miracle berries and the area where they first learned about its usefulness. In China, the history of eating goji dates back tens of thousands of years. Since the last century, goji has gained incredible popularity in many countries around the world. Behind healing properties Goji berries are rightfully recognized as one of the most useful natural herbal remedies. The shrub with oblong bright red fruits has many names: common wolfberry, Tibetan (or Chinese) barberry, wolfberry, wolfberry, Chinese wolfberry...
Dereza belongs to the nightshade family. Of the more than 40 species of plants bearing the scientific name “wolfberry”, as a rule, it is the common wolfberry that is grown outside China. Due to its unpretentiousness and relative ease of care, this plant is very popular and is well cultivated in Asia, Africa, the Caucasus, Ukraine, Primorye, as well as in middle lane Russia.
Benefits of goji berries for humans
Goji berries, the planting and care of which in Chinese provinces have already acquired an industrial scale, are incredibly valued in the traditional medicine of China and Tibet.
The properties of these “magical” berries are difficult to overestimate. Goji is an invaluable source of more than twenty minerals, a set of natural vegetable fats and carbohydrates, 18 rare amino acids, linoleic acid, proteins, fatty acids, fiber, essential vitamins C, E and group B.
Of course, goji berries, planted and cared for in Russia, are noticeably inferior in the amount of minerals and vitamins to similar fruits grown in the mountains of Tibet or China. But even “goji from the dacha” can provide human body daily norm of all the above substances.
In addition to using these berries for the most advertised purpose - weight loss, eating goji solves many medical and physiological problems: they improve metabolism and skin condition, reduce blood sugar levels, regulate melatonin levels, help with depression and sleep disorders, improve immunity and promote rejuvenation body. There is an opinion that the consumption of goji is the secret of the success of athletes from the Middle Kingdom, the reason for their incredible endurance.
Climatic conditions and soil for growing goji
Externally, the common wolfberry is a tall shrub with small leaves and thin flexible, rather prickly branches. flowering bush covered with delicate purple flowers, and the fruits of the wolfberry, known as goji berries, are oblong, medium-sized, and bright red in color. The ability of wolfberry to grow and bear fruit in the harsh mountain climate of the Himalayas suggests that the plant is highly resilient and can withstand frosts down to -15 degrees.
“Berry of happiness and longevity” feels great in the Russian temperate climate, in a place where there is a lot sunlight and average humidity. The soil on which dereza is grown can be any, so the plant is very unpretentious. Goji berries, the planting and care of which are discussed in the article, can be successfully grown in the Moscow region on a summer cottage.
Goji seedlings from cuttings
How to grow goji berries in your own garden? You can grow a wolfberry seedling from seeds or from cuttings.
Cuttings can be obtained by layering. To do this, in the middle of summer, on an existing bush at least three years old, bend it to the ground and dig in strong branches. Before the first frost, the branch is cut and planted.
The cuttings can be cut separately. Cuttings about 10 cm long are carefully cut from the mother bush, and be sure to cut it so that at least 1 cm is “old” wood. The edge is treated with root, and the cuttings are planted in the greenhouse. In winter, an insulated balcony is also suitable for this.
How to grow seedlings from seeds
If it is not possible to obtain cuttings, then you can grow a wolfberry seedling from seeds extracted from ripe goji berries. Planting and caring for seeds is somewhat different from cuttings.
The seeds are extracted from fully ripe goji berries. They do not need to be germinated before planting; it is recommended to simply soak them in a stimulator for a couple of hours immune system– zircon or epine. Seeds are placed in a medium-loose, drained, neutral soil mixture containing compost and sand. The seeds are planted close to each other in a greenhouse or other fairly bright place with a consistently warm temperature and covered with film. Watering is carried out using a spray bottle.
After two leaves appear on the bush, the plants are seated in deep containers and the tops are pinched. In greenhouse conditions, the dereza is kept for at least a year, after which it is planted in the ground.
Planting in open ground
The next important stage in growing goji is planting and caring for seedlings. It is best to plant wolfberry in the ground in the spring. Since this is a cross-pollinating plant, it is necessary to plant at least two shrubs nearby.
A wolfberry seedling is planted in a hole about 40 cm deep and about 50 cm wide. The distance between each goji berry bush should be at least 1.5 meters. The soil intended for filling the plant is mixed with a large amount of compost, approximately 8-10 kg (peat or humus is suitable) with the addition of 200 g of superphosphate and 40 grams of wood ash or potassium sulfate. The seedling should be buried a little, covered tightly with prepared soil, and watered well. Cover the surface of the ground around the seedling protective film or straw.
And valuable information for those who don’t have a summer house, but want to have their own goji berries. Planting and caring for this plant is also possible at home. To grow healthy berries at home, you will need a large pot so that the powerful roots of goji can grow freely. For creating favorable conditions, you will need to provide the goji berry bush with plenty of light. The place in which the goji berry will grow, planting and caring for which is planned at home, should be located where the plant is not exposed to cold flowing air from a window or door and excessively high temperatures, for example, from a heating radiator or stove. The rules for regular care of such an indoor bush are simple: do not apply mineral fertilizers at the same time as organic fertilizers, provide constant, but not too strong, watering. And it will be comfortable for the goji berry bush to “overwinter” at a cool temperature. One of the disadvantages of “homemade” goji is that they will contain a minimum of useful substances, much less than in a “country” specimen.
Shrub care
The main advantage that goji berries have is that planting and caring for this plant is quite simple. Caring for wolfberry shrubs after planting is as follows:
- Water as needed, twice a week in dry times.
- You can feed the plant, but only during the growing season.
- If desired, to give aesthetically pleasing, you can trim the plant and trim the branches.
- For the winter, either carefully cover the goji with branches or transplant it into a deep container and send it to “winter” in the basement.
As you can see, it’s easy to grow goji. The berry, planting and caring for in the Moscow region, which is described in the article, is becoming increasingly popular among gardeners.
Harvesting: features
No less important information than growing goji berries, planting, care - how to pick ripe bright berries correctly. There is a peculiarity here. A shrub grown from seeds produces a harvest of goji berries only in the third or even fourth year after planting.
You only need to pick ripe berries when they have acquired the required bright red hue! Berries that are not ripe on the branch should absolutely not be eaten, as they can cause poisoning.
Additionally, contact of fresh goji with exposed skin should be avoided. If you pick berries with your bare hands, the juice getting on your skin can cause irritation and stain your hands when they oxidize. dark color. The most traditional way to harvest is to shake the berries from the branches onto a spread cloth. If further processing of fresh berries is necessary, it is better to protect your hands with gloves.
How to store and eat ripe berries
To preserve the beneficial elements in the ripe berries, drying should be done only naturally, without separating the stalk, and placing the berries in the shade. Both the use of preservatives and the effect of oven drying or direct sunlight will negatively affect the quality of dried fruits.
A sign that the berry has dried to the desired state is peeling of the skin. After this, the goji must be separated from the stalk and placed in storage containers, and then kept in a dark, dry place.
It is important to remember that it is not safe to consume large amounts of goji berries at once - the body still has to get used to them. An “overdose” can result in dehydration and kidney problems. The safe daily dose of this herbal remedy is one tablespoon for an adult.
You can eat goji berries in any form. The easiest way is to brew the berries in a ratio of 1 tablespoon per 150 ml of boiling water. After 30 minutes, the drink is ready for use; it should be taken along with brewed berries.
Goji will also be an excellent addition to any dish: soups, desserts, cereals, salads, sauces... In addition to berries, dried wolfberry root bark and dried leaves this bush. Despite the miraculous properties of goji, you should remember to take precautions, and before you start consuming the berries of this plant, consult a doctor and become familiar with the existing contraindications.
Recently, unusual goji berries have come into fashion. Some say that this is a 100% weight loss product. Others believe that these miraculous berries are a storehouse of useful and vital microelements. In this article we will learn not only about why this plant is so useful and valuable, but also about how to grow goji berries at your dacha.
Mysterious goji berries are called “dereza” in Russian and scientifically. Actually, only the fruits of goji berries can be considered Chinese wolfberry(Lycium chinense), or d. ordinary or barbaric(L. barbarum). People also call dereza wolfberry (but this name is whole line various plants, including non-poisonous ones like wolfberry), lure. You can often hear the name “Tibetan barberry”, but wolfberry and barberry (Berberis) are completely different plants from different families - do not confuse them! They may slip you barberry seedlings under the guise of goji. The name “Goji” came into English from Chinese dialects - this is what the dereza is called in China.
The Chinese wolfberry is native to the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, in northwestern China. It was she who gave rise to so many legends and rumors about long-lived monks.
The common wolfberry is practically not inferior to its commodity in properties, but its distribution area is wider - you can find this berry in the east and center of China, throughout South-East Asia, and here too: in Central Asia, Kuban, Primorye, the Caucasus, Ukraine, central Russia.
Dereza belongs to the nightshade family; it is a deciduous shrub, reaching three meters in height, with drooping, prickly branches and small leaves. The crown can reach up to 6 m in diameter. The root system is powerful with deep, strong roots that form many root shoots.
The plant, if cultivated, is quite decorative: the branches are a pleasant light yellow color, the leaves are light green on top and bluish below.
It will begin to bloom in June and will be pleasing to the eye until October. Pink, purple, sometimes even brown-violet flowers have a soft, pleasant scent.
The berries are oblong, orange, crimson-red in color, up to 2 cm in length, enveloping the shoot like a scattering. It will begin to bear fruit 3 years after planting, sometimes earlier.
Goji Reproduction
- Seeds- propagates well by seeds. They are sown in a greenhouse without stratification in the spring and left for the winter. When the seedlings begin to grow, the top of the shoot is pinched to make the bush thicker.
- Vegetatively- can be propagated by semi-lignified cuttings about 10 cm long, but you should make sure that there is old wood on the shoot. To do this, dip part of the cut in Kornevin and plant it in a greenhouse or under film in July-August. When propagated by lignified cuttings, it takes root faster. You can root in a cool place or a cool but insulated balcony from autumn until the end of winter.
In the Caucasus, dereza often reproduces by self-sowing.
Goji planting
For common wolfberry, the soil reaction can be slightly acidic-strongly alkaline, but in principle it can grow on any soil composition. For planting, preference should be given to sunny places. Dereza does not like stagnant water. Best time for planting - spring. Goji is rarely planted in autumn; it is akin to extreme gardening, because most often it can freeze out in winter. But there are also favorable outcomes when autumn planting in warmer regions. The tests were carried out at breeding grounds in St. Petersburg. With shelter in the cold winter it froze to the level of the root collar or to the end of the snow cover. Can tolerate cold temperatures down to -15°C. Many sources (German nurseries) say that even down to -25°C, but in the middle zone this is extremely risky. In the south of Russia it can winter without shelter.
We prepare a hole 50-60 cm wide and about 40 cm deep for a goji seedling. We place holes for several plants at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other. Add 150-200 g of superphosphate, 8-10 kg of compost (humus, peat), 30-40 g of potassium sulfate or wood ash to the soil for filling and mix thoroughly. The seedlings need to be buried a little. After planting, water thoroughly and mulch with peat or humus.
Goji care
Watering: You can water the wolfberry only after planting and not even more than 2 times a week, depending on the dryness of the summer.
Feeding: Dereza grows even on poor soils, but best quality fruits are observed on soils with average fertility. You can feed young plants during the growing season; they do not need further feeding.
Trimming: Goji tolerates haircuts and pruning well. New shoots will grow from old wood. In ornamental gardening, it tolerates shearing well even with special mechanical devices.
Shelter for the winter: In winter, goji can freeze out, to be sure to protect itself, many gardeners plant the plant in deep containers and store it in basements until spring. But there are also gardeners whose dereza does not freeze and, covered only with spruce branches and snow, overwinters until spring.
Medicinal properties of goji berries
Goji berries are believed to contain vitamin C, many different minerals and polysaccharides, B vitamins, and essential fatty acids. In addition, they contain a huge amount of proteins, thereby surpassing even grain crops. A decoction of goji berries tones the body, perhaps due to its tonic properties in combination with proteins, in Chinese folk medicine used as a strong natural aphrodisiac. Conducted Scientific research indeed confirmed an increase in testosterone in the blood. Due to the high content of zinc and iron, they are often used for anemia. In combination with other herbs, they can be used as a remedy for chronic fatigue and improve immunity. Useful as a means of combating hypertension. In modern medicine, the antitumor properties of goji have not been confirmed. But it has been scientifically proven that a special polysaccharide has been isolated from the common wolfberry, which helps with initial stages diabetes
Which parts of the plant should you use?
1. Goji berries usually used in dried form. You should not pick berries with your bare hands, as Fresh Juice wolfberries can irritate the skin (about the same as fresh pineapple juice). It’s better to spread a cloth under the bush and knock the berries off the branches. The fruits should be harvested when they turn bright red and have reached full ripeness. Unripe fresh berries can cause poisoning. No wonder one of their names is wolfberry.
First you need to dry the berries, then separate them from the stalk. In order for the raw materials to acquire medicinal properties, the berries must be dried until the skin peels off. Drying can only be done naturally, without the use of ovens or preservatives.
2. Goji root bark- used for coughs, fevers, lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, and is also used as a diuretic and laxative. To obtain raw materials, you need to dig up the roots, wash them, remove the bark and dry them thoroughly in the sun. Then make decoctions from the bark.
From goji leaves They make invigorating teas.
Keep in mind that the Russian body, unlike the Chinese or Tibetans, is not characterized by a large consumption of goji berries. Our body is not able to immediately adapt to high consumption of fruits and other parts of this plant. In this regard, those who are heavily addicted to wolfberry may experience kidney problems and severe dehydration.
Goji berry varieties
Best known nowadays decorative variety‘New Big’ (NEW BIG) is the brainchild of Polish selection. The fruits are round, large and sweet. It is an excellent honey plant and has good resistance to urban conditions (wind, heat, smoke). 
The other two varieties suitable for growing in the middle zone are goji ‘Lhasa’ and ‘Chinese goji’ (Lyciet). ‘Chinese Goji’ has a high yield and is mid-season. Goji ‘Lhasa’ begins to bear fruit early - already in the second year after planting, unlike other varieties that bear fruit in the 3rd-4th year. This early ripening variety with large berries.
Today, many hybrid varieties are also sold (the traits of which are mostly transmitted only when vegetative propagation, and not through seeds), for example, ‘NR1 Lifeberry’ - frost-resistant and resistant to diseases and pests.
I hope this article will help you grow such healthy and popular goji berries in your own garden. Good luck!
The fashion for goji berries is growing at a tremendous speed. Some seek to demonstrate their effectiveness against excess weight, while others talk about the enormous beneficial properties and unique vitamin and nutritional composition that makes the berries almost a panacea for many diseases.
Botanical certificate
The question immediately arises: where do goji berries grow and what are they? The plant is a deciduous shrub belonging to the nightshade family. The plant is also called wolfberry (popularly, although it has nothing in common with them), red medlar, Chinese wolfberry, Chinese wolfberry, common wolfberry, wolfberry, Tibetan barberry. Homeland - Ningxia Hui (Tibet), China. The distribution area covers the South-Eastern and Central Asia, Caucasus, Primorye, central Russia, Ukraine.
In adulthood, the height of the plant reaches 3 m, and the crown is 6 m in diameter (photos of the goji bush are presented). The branches are drooping and prickly, with small foliage, colored light green above and bluish below. The root is very powerful, growing into the ground, and not on its surface.
Flowering begins in June and continues until October with the blooming of purple, pink, brown-violet buds with a pleasant aroma.
At the end of flowering, oblong berries of purplish-red or orange color are formed.
It is strictly forbidden to eat fresh fruits, because they contain poisonous components. But after drying, the berries can be consumed.
Goji berries: planting and care in the Moscow region
This is a heat-loving plant, so for excellent development of goji, care and cultivation must be optimal or close to it. In northern climates the weather is completely different and effort must be made to grow berries.
Selecting a location
The plant grows very quickly and at the same time has a well-developed root system. It should be planted either in areas devoid of vegetation, or along supports to create a hedge.
When choosing a place, you need to be extremely careful, because the wolfberry can “crush” nearby plants.
It is best to select sunny areas or located in slight shade. In addition, keep in mind that the height of the plant reaches three meters - take care of reliable support.
Temperature, humidity and soil requirements
As was said, dereza is frost-resistant and can withstand temperatures in the range from -26 to +40ºС. There are also no special requirements for humidity. Tolerates drought calmly.
The shrub is not picky about the soil. Favorite substrates are alkaline and neutral. The plant can also be planted in acidic areas, but there it will develop somewhat worse.
The only thing that dereza does not tolerate is stagnation of water. Therefore, you should be very careful when watering and do not plant the plant in areas with rocky substrate.
Watering and fertilizing
Tibetan barberry is watered depending on its age. In the first year, watering should be no more than twice a week. As the plant grows, watering can be done less frequently and adjusted according to the weather and dryness.
Only young growth should be fertilized. For these purposes, superphosphate or humus is used. After growing into an adult plant, there is no need for fertilizing, since the dereza feels great even on very poor lands.
Reproduction
Three methods are used for propagation.
Seminal
Seeds are taken from pre-dried berries. To obtain seed, you should take dry fruits, soak them in water and, when they soften, remove the seeds. In order for them to germinate well, they need to be kept in a growth stimulator. Afterwards, sowing is carried out in a container with a mixture of ordinary soil and peat in a ratio of 1:2, deepening it into the substrate by 2-3 mm.
For supporting necessary conditions For germination, the container is covered with film and sent to a warm place, inaccessible to light. When the sprouts hatch, the box is taken out into the light and protected from cold and drafts. Watering is done from a spray bottle. 
After a week, the film can be removed, and when 3-4 leaves are formed, pick (transfer) the seedlings into separate pots (deep).
On permanent basis open ground The resulting goji seedlings, grown from seeds at home, are planted in the spring, when it is certain that frost will not return, or already at the beginning of summer.
Planting seedlings
This option is acceptable if you managed to buy goji seedlings grown at home, or you purchased planting material from your own hands.
With this method, two weeks before planting, holes should be made 40-50 cm in size. If for the southern regions the “harvesting” is done in the fall, then for colder regions - in the spring. This will allow the plants to withstand frost well.
Coarse sand is poured into each hole and half filled with a substrate consisting of humus and fertile land 8 kg each. 30 g of potassium sulfate is also added there (can be replaced with a glass of wood ash), 0.15 kg of double superphosphate, mixed directly in the hole and the seedling is planted, sprinkled with fertile soil, and then watered. 
The tree trunk circle must be mulched using humus or peat.
The distance between copies must be at least 2 m.
Cuttings
Now we’ll tell you how to grow goji from cuttings. Cuttings of 10-12 cm each are cut from an adult plant. Then they are placed in a root-forming solution and planted for rooting in a constructed greenhouse and placed in a warm place. It is best to plant the material in late July - early August. In the spring, the root will grow enough to plant goji in open ground. Caring for a young plant is not much different from an adult one.
Pruning and wintering
The bush needs regular pruning. In the first years of growth, 3-6 of the strongest branches are planned. They are taken as a basis and a haircut is carried out around them. Then shoots capable of bearing fruit will begin to form on these main skeletal branches.
If the dereza is grown for decorative purposes, then choose one main shoot, drive in a long peg, and then carry out a “haircut”, trying to form a tree. The procedure is done as soon as numerous fruiting shoots appear and the total height of the plant exceeds 1.2 m.
To prevent freezing of the root system in winter, the bush should be hilled up and mulched to a depth of 10-15 cm. The branches protect non-woven material(for example, agrofibre, lutrasil), folded in several layers, or with burlap. You can play it safe by additionally throwing spruce branches over the planting, and, as soon as the snow falls, make large snowdrifts.
Pests
The plant perfectly protects itself from pests. Nevertheless, for preventive purposes, the wolfberry tree should be regularly inspected for the appearance of any signs of diseases or pests. If this is the case, prune the affected parts and, if necessary, spray with insecticidal preparations, diluting them in the amount specified by the manufacturer on the packaging. We must not forget that the treatment is done more than once, especially if the pest infestation is huge.
Application and storage
Collected fruits should be stored in a dry, dark place. If an infusion is being prepared, it should be kept only in a cool place and for no more than 2 days.
Goji berries are used not only for weight loss, but also as an ingredient in the preparation of wines, fruit purees, desserts, soups, baked goods, yoghurts, tea, juices, and cereals. The seeds are used to produce oil. Fresh berries have a nightshade note to their taste. But as soon as the fruits are frozen or dried, the taste disappears, and the berries acquire a taste similar to dried apricots.
In the garden, dereza is mainly planted to obtain a useful harvest, as well as vegetable hedges. The plant is unpretentious and will not die if you do not water or apply fertilizer. But, when planning to plant goji berries on your plot, you should consider all the varieties in advance and choose the most suitable ones.
The berries are also widely used in medicine. So, they are taken for: back pain, diabetes, insomnia, anemia, obesity, excess cholesterol, problems with adenoids, vision problems, athletes thus restore their strength, etc.
As you can see, although goji berries are exotic shrub, but you don’t need to go to overseas countries or buy it at an incredible price. It is enough to follow some nuances, and you can easily grow a plant on your site and reap quite a considerable harvest.
Goji in the garden - video
Goji (Lycium barbarum) is a spreading tall shrub, up to 3.5 m tall. It is widespread in the Himalayas, found at altitudes up to 3000 m above sea level. China is considered the homeland. You can also find shrubs in southern Europe, Iran, North Africa.
This shrub is also known as common Dereza, Chinese Dereza. It belongs to the Dereza genus, the Solanaceae family. Common names include Chinese wolfberry, red medlar, and wolfberry (this should not be confused with a plant of the same name common in Russia).
Legends about Goji berries
The name Goji comes from the east. It is found in manuscripts dating back to 650 BC, in which the berry is called medicinal, having the properties of cleansing and rejuvenating the blood. In China, legends call goji berries the fruit of immortality. One legend tells of the reign of the Tang Dynasty, when an unusual bush grew, the fruits of which, after ripening, fell into a spring at the foot of the mountains.
Residents who drank water from this source maintained excellent health, strength, and youth. Today, goji berries are actively promoted throughout the world as “the berries of happiness and longevity.”
What does goji look like?
Goji is a deciduous shrub with thick, deep roots that produce many offspring. The crown is dense.
Goji branches are long, twig-like, drooping with age, and covered with thin spines. The shoots are light yellow. The leaves are on short petioles, alternate, entire, elliptical in shape, fleshy, green above and bluish below. Bell-shaped flowers are lilac or violet-pink. The fruits are red, juicy, oblong berries that taste bittersweet or sour.
It bears fruit from May to September, in other regions until October. During this period, several harvests are harvested, the most valuable being the one in August. Dried berries look like large raisins. The seeds are small, about a millimeter.
Planting, cultivation and care
Due to their small size, the seeds do not require processing and have good germination. Before planting, seeds are soaked in zircon or epin for 1-2 hours. Sow into medium-loose soil, for example, one part of crushed peat and two parts of loam. It is preferable to use neutral soils.
The container with the seeds should be placed in a bright, warm place, maintaining constant humidity and temperature without large fluctuations. The site is not recommended for the seeds to be exposed to jets of cold air from a window or for overheating to occur from a battery or a nearby electric heater.
After seed germination, the plants are placed in a bright place with diffused sunlight or partial shade. After the first true pair of leaves appears, they are planted. You should not delay replanting, as the roots quickly grow in depth; for replanting, take pots with a depth of at least 7 cm so that the roots have free space. Seedlings are pinched to enhance branching.
For planting, prepare a hole 40 cm deep. The soil is mixed with organic and mineral fertilizers. should be slightly deepened, watered well and mulched with peat or humus. During growth, flowering and fruiting, infrequent watering is beneficial.
Goji is a cross-pollinating plant; for good fruiting you need to plant at least 2 bushes.
Goji grown from seeds bloom in the second year, and produce a harvest in 3-4 years. The berries are collected by shaking them from a branch onto a cloth, since when they come into contact with the skin, they oxidize it, and the skin then turns black. Dry the berries in the shade.
The main harvest comes from last year's shoots, so older branches are pruned so that the crown is not too thick.
Goji can also be planted by cuttings, root shoots, and shoot tips, tilting them towards the ground for rooting.
Goji – unpretentious plant. The shrub is resistant to weather changes, since in its homeland, in mountainous areas, there are droughts and frosts, prolonged downpours, and stormy winds. Therefore, there are no special care requirements, it is only advisable to plant in neutral, fertilized soils; it grows somewhat worse in acidic soils.
The shrub is resistant to urban conditions and tolerates light shading and pruning. It grows quickly and needs watering in dry years. Among the pests, aphids can also be affected.
It is possible to grow goji as an indoor plant. Then you should winter in a cool place - about 10 0C. The plant is planted in a deep container, watered regularly, preventing the soil from drying out. Be sure to keep the plant in a well-lit place.
Question about the medicinal properties of goji
IN modern world Goji berries are advertised as a source of a unique set of natural components, a large amount of vitamin C, and 4 rare polysaccharides not found in other foods. In the North American market it is called the “cure all diseases.”
Japanese scientist H. Wu published a study claiming that goji juice is able to restore the structure of DNA molecules due to the presence of biologically active substances in it. Evidence is given that one Chinese man originally from the Himalayas, who consumed goji daily, lived 252 years.
Studies have been conducted in China, Japan, Switzerland, Mongolia, and Tibet, the results of which prove the effectiveness of goji in the treatment and prevention of cancer. The antioxidant effect of berries, according to scientists, delays aging.
Goji berries, their juice and decoctions are used to treat hypertension, lumbago, diabetes, dizziness, and are used to improve vision, potency, as a tonic and antitumor agent. The bark and roots are used in the treatment of fever, cough, to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, as a diuretic and laxative.
However, a consumer protection study conducted by CBC at Memorial Sloan-Ketterin Cancer Center in New York states that the claim that juice prevents breast cancer is not true. Earl Mindella says the dried berries do not contain the amount of vitamin C claimed by other scientists. One red apple contains the same amount of antioxidants as 13 servings of Goji berry juice.
Use and storage of goji berries
Goji berries are used in the preparation of desserts, yoghurts, tea, juices, wine, cocktails, and fruit purees. Berries are added to porridges, soups, and baked goods. Fresh fruits have a sweet taste with a nightshade flavor, which disappears after drying or freezing. The berries become sweet, reminiscent of dried apricots. Oil is produced from the seeds. The shoots and leaves are also used to make tea.
Store berries in dry dark place, berry infusions are stored for no more than 2 days in a cool place.
Thanks to long flowering and fruiting, bright color of fruits, goji is a magnificent ornamental shrub.
Goji or Tibetan barberry pretty famous plant worldwide. The pleasant-tasting berries of this shrub are considered almost a universal remedy for most diseases. Their indecently high cost does not stop people who want to improve their health or join a healthy lifestyle.
The great similarity between goji and ordinary barberry suggests that we can try to grow these berries here too. Tibetan barberry is a very hardy and unpretentious plant. It easily tolerates all the vagaries of the weather - heat, drought, rain, frost. It does not require special care, practically does not suffer from diseases and pests and can bring big harvest even in the northern regions.
The biggest and only problem is to grow good seedlings and plant them in accordance with all rules and recommendations. A seedling grown from seeds with your own hands is much more reliable than those that can be purchased at any nursery.
Freshly harvested seeds (from fresh berries) are perfect option, but not real in our area. Therefore, to plant goji you will have to use seeds from dried berries. This will not significantly affect their germination. Before planting, the seeds must be kept for at least a couple of hours in one of the preparations or infusions that stimulate the growth of future plants. Epin, Zircon or infusions based on folk recipes using ash, aloe, honey, potato juice and onion peels are suitable for this.
The soil mixture for planting seeds should consist of ordinary soil (sixty percent), peat (thirty percent) and ash (ten percent). It is poured into a container, furrows are made and the seeds are sown. The top is crushed with a half-centimeter layer of peat and covered with a transparent film. The box should be in a warm and darkened room until the first shoots appear.
Immediately after the first shoots appear, the container should be moved to a room with good lighting or placed on a windowsill. Tender young seedlings require constant moisture maintenance. Spraying with a fine spray will help with this.
Picking is carried out only after the appearance of a full-fledged fourth leaf. Each young plant it is necessary to transplant into a separate deep pot or glass (with a volume of at least 500 milliliters), since the plant has long roots. This must be taken into account when replanting and use only the transshipment method, without separating the earthen ball from the root system.
Tibetan barberry is planted in open ground at the beginning of summer, when the soil is already well warmed up and there is no danger of night frosts.
Goji planting
The site for planting goji must be chosen to be sunny and without the danger of stagnant water, that is, somewhere on a small hill or hill. Any soil is suitable for the plant, but alkaline and rocky soil will be preferable.
It is necessary to leave a distance of at least one and a half meters between seedlings. The depth of each hole is 20 centimeters. Before planting a seedling, you need to pour a small amount of ash-humus mixture into each hole.
When planting large goji seedlings purchased from a nursery, the holes should be twice as deep (at least 40 centimeters) and a larger amount of nutrient mixture should be poured. For each plant you will need one bucket of peat and compost, as well as wood ash(about one liter jar). If you wish, you can add superphosphate (200 grams) to the soil.
Immediately after planting young shrubs, abundant watering is carried out, the soil around the seedling is mulched and a support is installed for tying up the branches.
Watering and fertilizing
Tibetan barberry does not require feeding, and watering is carried out only in very hot weather and a long absence of precipitation - no more than twice every seven days. At other times, watering is not necessary.
Pruning and shaping the bush
Pruning is carried out in autumn. Most often, the formation of a bush occurs in two ways: in the form of a tree or in the classical way.
Classic pruning begins in the first year of the plant’s life. During the first three years (every year), it is necessary to carefully inspect the entire plant and select the strongest and longest branches (there can be about five of them), and cut off all the rest without hesitation. After three years, on each such branch you need to leave one (or two) shoots with an average length of 30-40 centimeters. Next season, these shoots will produce new fruiting branches, three of which (the strongest) should be left and the rest cut off.
You can form a bush with one stem. This method is used from the second year of the plant’s life. Absolutely all branches are subject to pruning, except for one - the strongest and longest. This pruning is carried out regularly (every year) until the only branch grows to one and a half meters in height. To support this branch, you need to take care of support and garter.
All further trimmings are carried out according to the script classic way for the purpose of forming fruit branches.
Don’t forget about “health-improving” trimmings. It is necessary to promptly rid the plant of damaged and dried branches. The shrub does not need branches located at a height of up to 40 centimeters from the ground, as well as branches that do not bear fruit.
Shelter for the winter
Goji is a frost-resistant plant, but at temperatures below 15 degrees below zero it can die. To prevent this from happening, you must use any suitable covering material (for example, vegetable tops, spruce branches, or others).
Goji Reproduction
The method of propagation by shoots has proven itself to be excellent. In the summer, young goji branches can be buried in a separate container, and by autumn they can already take root. Such shoots can be replanted at the end of next spring.
Video - growing goji berries
Goji berries are perfect for growing in our country, because in the vast expanses of the plant’s historical homeland there are very harsh climatic conditions. However, in regions with extreme low temperatures It is possible to grow goji berries in a greenhouse or at home.
There are four options for planting and growing goji berry bushes:
- planting seeds;
- rooting of seedlings;
- cuttings;
- k-shaped landing
indoor plant.
Let's look at all the options presented in more detail.
Planting seeds
The process of planting and growing seeds is quite simple, but it will take a lot of time to get a fruit-bearing plant. The seeds must be carefully removed from the dried berries. To make this easier, you should soak the berries in water, because the size of the seeds is only about 1 mm, and the flesh of the fruit is sticky, which makes extraction difficult. You can order seeds through online stores, or purchase them at a gardening facility. The approximate cost for 10 pieces will be 60 rubles.
Planting must be done to a depth of 2 mm, or carefully lay out the seeds and sprinkle with a thin layer of soil. To increase seedlings, several seeds should be planted, and then the probability of a successful result becomes 50-90% higher. The optimal time for planting is April.
The soil composition should include peat, coarse river sand and a mixture of garden soil, in proportion 1:1:1. You also need to ensure that the soil is well moistened. To maintain moisture, you can cover the containers plastic film, removing it at night, allowing the soil to “breathe”. The optimal temperature is within a radius of 25°C. Drafts, temperature changes of more than ten degrees and direct sunlight can impair seed germination.
After 2 weeks, when the shoots appear, you can transplant the plants into transplant pots with a depth of at least 7 centimeters. This requirement should not be ignored, because the root system develops quickly, and at a shallower depth, it can be easily damaged, which will affect the viability of the shrub. After the first shoots have appeared, you can wait for 2-3 leaves to grow, and only then replant.
The first year you need to grow goji at home, and only then plant it in open soil.
Rooting of seedlings
A quick way to get an adult tree is to plant seedlings. The process is not labor-intensive and widely known. You can order seedlings online, but the cost will be higher than when buying seeds - about 300-600 rubles apiece. Delivery on average takes from one to three days.
Cuttings
This method is suitable for propagating plants. Least expensive method. The established plant is used to obtain cuttings. After pruning, a little more than 40 cm remains from the seedling, and the remaining branches are used for cuttings measuring 10-15 centimeters, which easily and with almost 100% probability take root perfectly. Just like seedlings, cuttings can be ordered. The approximate cost of 1 piece is 150 rubles.
Goji berry bush, grow as a houseplant
The goji bush feels great and bears fruit not only in the garden, but also at home. But, growing goji at home, unfortunately, does not provide the opportunity to obtain the taste and aroma of berries grown at home. When growing at home, the main thing is to avoid drafts and direct sunlight that burns delicate leaves. For the month of “wintering” the plant will need to maintain a temperature of no higher than 10°C. An excellent option would be to place the pot on the sunny south or east side.
Diseases or pests (except aphids and powdery mildew) do not harm the plant. When planted in the ground, the bush can withstand frosts down to -30ºC in winter, but only when it is more than two years old. When planted as seedlings or seeds, fruits set in the second year of growth, and when grown in shifts in the fourth year. The plant bears fruit in the summer and also in early autumn. How older plant, the more aromatic and sweeter its fruits become.
The soil should be alkaline; when purchasing fertilizers, give preference to organic ones. Watering is abundant, about once a week, depending on the temperature. Provide free space for the quickly expanding crown. The branches need to be tied up in the first year and subsequently pruned so that the bush is dense. For the winter, dead branches must be removed and the roots sprinkled with sawdust.
The foothill regions of Tibet gave us amazing plant- goji, also called Tibetan barberry and common wolfberry. The bush has slightly hanging soft vines. They have spines and can reach up to 80 cm in length. The leaves are lanceolate, tapering to the tip, green, with gray tint. The flowers are five-lobed and reach 3 cm in diameter. The flowering period lasts from early June to mid-August. Color purple. The growth of the perennial ranges from 6 to 9 meters. The berries are bright red, oval, no more than 2 cm in length.
Goji has one peculiarity: when touched by a person, it causes an oxidation reaction, at which point the skin turns black. Therefore, during harvesting, they do not pick up the fruits with their hands, but stretch a special flooring and shake the branches. Under natural conditions it is found at an altitude of 3 thousand meters above sea level. Habitats include China, Australia, America and Africa. It is actively used not only for decorative, but also for medicinal purposes.
Use in landscape design
Tibetan barberry is an indispensable element of garden design. Specialists, by cutting and modeling it, create exquisite compositions. Actively used by gardeners to create hedges, group and single landings, as a way to zone a site.
This unpretentious garden plant thrives in winter gardens and container plantings. In any case, the common wolfberry perfectly complements the landscape. The perennial has long become a permanent participant. In them, it acts as a lawn frame, protecting fragile flower beds from wind and trampling.
Combination with other crops
Most often combined with various varieties. Can be used both basic and the background. Bright flowers and prominent berries appropriately fill contrasting accent areas. Harmonious compositions can be created in partnership with:
- azalea;
The lower tier of the ensemble is filled with:
- asters.
When selecting “neighbors”, it is important to take into account agricultural requirements and color compatibility.
Plant propagation
Seeds
Small sizes planting material do not provide pre-planting preparation. But for better germination, you can soak them for 3 hours in a Zircon solution. The soil must be prepared in advance (a mixture of loam and peat in a ratio of 3:1). You can purchase ready-made products in a specialized store. soil mixture, with a neutral reaction.
The seeds are not buried in the ground, but sprinkled on its surface in a thin layer. They are covered with a small layer of substrate on top. The container is placed on a well-lit, sunny side. Humidity and temperature conditions must remain stable. There should be no drafts or heating devices. After the first shoots appear, the pot can be moved to a more shaded place.
As soon as 2 or more full leaves appear, the seedlings are transplanted into individual containers. But you shouldn’t be late with diving: the root system develops quickly. To enhance branching, pinch the tops.
Strengthened plants are planted on permanent place in a planting hole 35 cm deep. A complex of mineral and organic fertilizers is first added to it. For a more favorable effect on the roots, they are mixed with soil. The seedling is slightly deepened, and the soil around it is carefully compacted. The process is completed with abundant watering and mulching. Goji are planted in pairs.
Planting and care
Site selection and soil preparation
In the natural environment, the “berry of happiness” grows in the most extreme conditions. Therefore, there are no special requirements for site selection. Garden planting feels equally good in the shade and in sunny flower beds.
The plant adapts well to different soils. It is important to choose a soil with a neutral reaction. In acidic species it grows poorly, flowering and harvest are poor.
Landing requirements
It is better to plant the eastern miracle in mid-spring. Cross pollination requires 1-2 more representatives to be located nearby. Suitable size holes - 35 cm deep and 45 cm wide. The optimal distance between them is 130-140 cm. The distance between the rows is at least 250-300 cm. The soil that is poured into the planting hole is mixed with compost in large quantities.
The root zone, after planting, is mulched or covered with straw. The tree can be strengthened with a support; its height should not exceed 2 meters.
Loosening and mulching. Have a beneficial effect on growth and development. It is important to carry out shallow loosening so as not to damage the root system. During this process, all weeds are also removed. With the help of humus or peat, young plants are protected from moisture evaporation during planting.
Watering and fertilizing
Watering should be scanty but regular. Over-watering should be avoided. This is especially true for young seedlings. They are more sensitive to both the abundance and lack of water. Drying out of the soil and the formation of crusts is unacceptable.. If long time There is heavy rainfall, the root zone is covered with plastic film to prevent the roots from rotting. Instances planted without a drainage layer are covered on the very first day of heavy rains. The irrigation regime is closely related to weather conditions. During drought, it is carried out every 3 days. Young specimens are watered more often. Unlike adults, they are not able to withstand dry soil. Inhabitants of sunny areas require more moisture.
As for fertilizing. Unpretentious shrub able to grow even in poor soil. There are no special requirements for minerals. It is enough to add compost and a complex with phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium in the spring.
Diseases and pests
The most common problem is the appearance powdery mildew, during the rainy season. Significant harm decorative bush she doesn't apply. For prevention, the bush is sprayed with a soap solution. No special chemicals are used. They can start on young shoots Colorado beetle, caterpillars and aphids. The affected areas are treated with a strong wormwood solution.
Pruning and preparation for winter
Pruning begins with the formation of the “skeleton” of the garden planting. The method is very similar to the formation of the crown of a grapevine: only fruiting “shoulders” are left on the main branches (branches no more than 30 cm). By pruning and shaping, you can create a columnar shape of a perennial with drooping branches. The standard is selected to be 100-150 cm high. It is supported by a metal rod. During the period of crown creation, support is required.
Severe winter conditions will immediately destroy a useful representative of the flora. It is very important to conduct a thorough and proper preparation to the cold season.
In central Russia, the shrub is carefully removed from the soil, having previously dug up its root circle, and, together with a lump of earth, is placed in a deep container.
It is transferred to the basement until it warms up completely, winter Garden or a warm veranda. If the climate is mild, then mulching the trunk will help protect against temperature changes. The first layer is applied from sawdust. It must be at least 13 cm. They are covered with spruce branches on top.
Species and varietal diversity
To date, more than 35 species of this useful representative of the flora are known. Shrubs and their fruits have significant differences among different varieties:
- variety " New big". Appeared thanks to the work of breeders from Poland. Its height is 340-350 cm. It is grown as a shrub or vine. Fruits decorate the branches in the first year. The eastern miracle grows very quickly: adding up to 90 cm in height per year. The variety is frost-resistant, unpretentious and very decorative. The berries ripen in September-October.
- Chinese. The semi-drooping representative reaches 180-200 cm in height. Resistant to diseases and insect pests. The preferred planting location is slight shade. Young plants are planted in pairs. The pulp of the berries is sour, with a characteristic bitterness. Ripens earlier than other representatives. The fruits hang on the branches until the first frost.
- Lhasa. Height 300 cm. The branches are arched, dotted with small thorns over the entire surface. It is very popular due to high yield. One bush can produce up to 5 kg of berries. The flowers are purple and self-pollinating. The fruits are orange and large in size.