Goji berries are perfect for growing on the territory of our country, because in the vastness of the historical homeland of the plant there are very harsh climatic conditions. However, in regions with extremely low temperatures, greenhouse or home-grown goji berries are possible.
There are four options for planting and growing a goji berry shrub:
- planting seeds;
- rooting seedlings;
- cuttings;
- landing in the form of
room plant.
Let's consider all the presented options 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 fruiting plant. From dried berries bones must be carefully removed. To make this easier, you should soak the berries in water, because the seeds are only about 1 mm in size, and the pulp of the fruit is sticky, which makes it difficult to extract. It is possible to order seeds through online stores, or purchase in gardening. 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 earth. To increase seedlings, several seeds should be planted, and then the probability of a successful result becomes 50-90% higher. The optimal time for landing is April.
The composition of the soil should include peat, coarse river sand and a mixture of garden soil, in proportion to 1: 1: 1. You also need to make sure that the earth is well moistened. You can cover the containers to keep the moisture in. plastic wrap, removing it at night, allowing the soil to "breathe". Optimum temperature– within a radius of 25°C. Drafts, temperature fluctuations of more than ten degrees and direct sunlight can impair seed germination.
After 2 weeks, when shoots appear, you can transplant the plants into transplant pots, at least 7 centimeters deep. 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 sprouts have appeared, you can wait for 2-3 leaves to grow, and even then carry out a transplant.
The first year it is necessary to grow goji at home, and only then plant in open soil.
Rooting seedlings
A quick way to get a mature tree is to plant seedlings. The process is not labor intensive and is widely known. You can order seedlings via the Internet, but the cost will be higher than when buying seeds - about 300-600 rubles apiece. Delivery usually takes one to three days.
cuttings
This method is suitable for plant propagation. Least costly method. The plant that has taken root is used to obtain cuttings. After pruning, a little more than 40 cm remains from the seedling, and the rest of the branches go to cuttings 10-15 centimeters in size, which easily and with a probability of almost 100% take root perfectly. Just like seedlings, cuttings can be ordered. The approximate cost of 1 piece is 150 rubles.
Goji berry shrub, grow as a houseplant
The goji shrub feels great and bears fruit not only in the garden, but also at home. But, growing goji at home, unfortunately, does not make it possible to get the taste and aroma, like berries grown in their homeland. When growing at home, the main thing is to avoid drafts and straight lines burning tender leaves. sun rays. For the month of "wintering" the plant will be required to create a temperature not higher than 10 ° C. A great option would be to place the pot on the sunny south or east side.
Diseases or pests (other than aphids and powdery mildew) do not harm the plant. When planting in the ground, a bush in winter time withstands frosts down to -30ºC, but only at the age of more than two years. When planted by seedlings or seeds, fruits are tied in the second year of growth, and when grown in shifts in the fourth year. The plant bears fruit in the summer, as well as in early autumn. How older plant, the more fragrant and sweeter its fruits become.
The soil should be used alkaline, when buying fertilizers, give preference to organic. Watering - plentiful, about once a week, depending on the temperature. Provide free space for a rapidly expanding crown. Branches in the first year need to be tied up, then cut off so that the shrub is thick. For the winter, dead branches must be removed, and the roots sprinkled with sawdust.
There are few people who have never heard of goji berries. For the past few years, attractive advertisements for this "miracle from the East" have been flooding the Internet sites. Goji is often offered as a "magic" natural remedy for weight loss, but it is also known for the content of many invaluable micronutrients in this plant, beneficial to the body person.
But is it really necessary to constantly buy goji berries for decent money in order to consume goji berries? After all, the conditions for growing this miracle plant can be created in Russia. Anyone who wants to try goji as a means for losing weight, is looking for a source of trace elements and vitamins, or simply wants to diversify their summer cottage with some unusual plant, of course, it will 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 miracle berries and the area where they first learned about its usefulness. In China, the history of goji eating goes back tens of thousands of years. Since the last century, goji have gained incredible popularity in many countries of the world. Behind healing properties goji berry is rightfully recognized as one of the most useful natural herbal remedies. A shrub with oblong bright red fruits has many names: Tibetan (or Chinese) barberry, wolfberry, Chinese dereza ...
The benefits of goji berries for humans
The goji berry, planting and caring for which in the Chinese provinces has already acquired an industrial scale, is incredibly valued in traditional medicine in China and Tibet.
The properties of these "magic" 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, the goji berry, which is planted and cared for in Russia, is noticeably inferior in terms of the amount of minerals and vitamins to similar fruits grown in the mountains of Tibet or in China. But even "goji from the dacha" are able to provide the human body with the daily norm of all of the above substances.
In addition to the use of these berries for the most publicized goal - weight loss, the use of 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. organism. There is an opinion that it is the use of goji that 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
Outwardly, the common dereza is a tall shrub with small leaves and thin, flexible, rather prickly branches. The flowering bush is covered with delicate purple flowers, and the fruit of the wolfberry, known as the goji berry, is oblong, medium-sized, and bright red. The ability of wolfberry to grow and bear fruit in the harsh mountain climate of the Himalayas suggests that the plant is highly viable 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 are many sunlight and average humidity. The soil on which dereza is grown can be any, so the plant is very unpretentious. The goji berry, planting and caring for which is discussed in the article, can be successfully grown in the suburbs at their summer cottage.
Goji seedlings from cuttings
How to grow goji berries on the site own dacha? You can grow a seedling of dereza from seeds or from cuttings.
Cuttings can be obtained using layering. To do this, in the middle of summer, on an already existing bush no younger than three years old, they bend down to the ground and dig in strong branches. Before the first frost, the branch is cut off and seated.
The cuttings can be cut separately. From the mother bush, cuttings about 10 cm long are carefully cut, while it is imperative to cut so that at least 1 cm is “old” wood. The edge is processed with a root, and the cuttings are planted in a greenhouse. In winter, an insulated balcony is also suitable for this.
How to grow seedlings from seeds
If it is not possible to get cuttings, then you can grow a wolfberry seedling from seeds extracted from a ripe goji berry. Planting and leaving seeds is somewhat different from the "cutting".
Seeds are extracted from a fully ripe goji berry. They do not need to be germinated before planting, it is recommended to simply soak them for a couple of hours in an immune system stimulant - zircon or epine. Seeds are placed in a medium loose drained neutral soil mixture containing compost and sand. Seeds are planted close to each other in a greenhouse or other fairly bright place with a consistently warm temperature and covered with a film. Watering is carried out using a spray gun.
After the appearance of two leaves on the bush, the plants are seated in deep containers, and the tops are pinched. In greenhouse conditions, dereza is not aged less than a year and then planted in the ground.
Landing in open ground
Next milestone in goji cultivation - planting and caring for seedlings. It is best to plant dereza 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 land intended for backfilling the plant is mixed with a large amount of compost, about 8-10 kg (peat or humus is suitable) with the addition of 200 g of superphosphate and 40 grams wood ash or potassium sulfate. The seedling should be buried a little, densely sprinkled with prepared soil, watered well. Cover the ground around the seedling protective film or straw.
And valuable information for those who do not have a dacha, but want to have their own goji berry. Planting and caring for this plant is possible at home. To grow healthy berries at home, you need a voluminous pot so that powerful goji roots can grow freely. For creating favorable conditions, you will need to provide the goji berry bush with plenty of light. The place where the goji berry will grow, planting and caring for which is planned at home, should be located where the plant will not be exposed to cold flowing air from windows or doors and unnecessarily high temperatures, for example, from a heating radiator or stove. Rules regular care behind such an indoor bush are simple: do not apply mineral supplements simultaneously with organic top dressing, ensure constant, but not too strong, watering. And it will be comfortable to "winter" a bush of goji berries at a cool temperature. Of the minuses of the "home" goji - useful substances they will contain a minimum, much less than in the "country" copy.
shrub care
The main plus that the goji berry has is that planting and caring for this plant is quite simple. dereza after planting is as follows:
- Water as needed, twice a week during dry periods.
- You can fertilize the plant, but only during the growing season.
- If desired, to give an aesthetic appearance, you can cut the plant and cut the branches.
- For the winter, goji either carefully cover with branches or transplanted into a deep container and sent to “winter” in the basement.
As you can see, it's easy to grow goji. The berry, planting and caring for which is described in the article in the Moscow region, is becoming more and more popular among gardeners.
We harvest: features
Not less than 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 yields goji berries only in the third or even fourth year after planting.
You need to collect only a ripe berry when it has acquired the prescribed bright red hue! Berries that are not ripe on a branch should not be eaten, as they can cause poisoning.
In addition, contact of fresh goji with exposed skin should be avoided. If you pick berries with your bare hands, the juice, getting on the skin, can cause irritation and stain when the hands are oxidized in dark color. The most traditional way to harvest is to shake the berries off the branches onto a spread cloth. If it is necessary to further process fresh berries, it is better to protect your hands with gloves.
How to store and consume ripe berries
To preserve useful elements in a ripe berry, drying should be done only naturally, without separating the stalk, spreading 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 is dried to the desired state is peeling of the skin. After that, 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 immediately use a large number of goji berries are not safe - the body still has to get used to them. "Overdose" can result in dehydration and kidney problems. The safe daily dose of this herbal remedy is one tablespoon for an adult.
You can use goji berries in any form. The easiest way is to brew berries in the proportion of 1 tablespoon per 150 ml of boiling water. After 30 minutes, the drink is ready to drink, you need to take it along with brewed berries.
Also, goji will be an excellent addition to any dishes: soups, desserts, cereals, salads, sauces ... In addition to berries, dried bark of common dereza root and dried leaves of this shrub are used for medicinal and tonic tinctures and tea. Despite the miraculous properties of goji, you should remember to take precautions, and before you start using the berries of this plant, consult a doctor and familiarize yourself with the existing contraindications.
More recently, a completely new product, unknown to the average consumer, has appeared on the health products market - goji berries. Sellers position their product as a valuable tool for weight loss and the main component for the preparation of the elixir of longevity. The culture did not go unnoticed by gardeners, who immediately had a lot of questions. What does the mysterious plant look like? Is it possible to grow it in the country? Where can I get planting material? And how to care for goji? Let's try to figure it out.
Description of culture
In fact, goji is not such a rare culture. In botany, she is known by more prosaic names - Dereza ordinary or Dereza Berbers. The plant is a tall (up to 3.5 m) deciduous perennial with drooping prickly branches, long elliptical leaves and pretty purple-pink flowers that look like bells. In terms of content, culture is undemanding and looks very impressive in landscape design. Due to its resistance to adverse climatic phenomena and air pollution, it is excellent for urban gardening.
Of course, all the magical properties attributed to goji fruits by marketers are greatly exaggerated. However, in Chinese medicine, berries are indeed included in the composition of medicinal potions intended for the treatment of impotence, insomnia, anemia, and dizziness. Berry juice is used as a tonic drink.
In view of all the characteristics, planting a dereza in the country is still worth it. A cute bush will not only decorate the site, but also please good harvests berries, the price of which is fantastically high at points of sale.
Breeding methods and planting dates
The main task of gardeners who decide to cultivate goji is to acquire planting material. You can propagate the culture in any of the following ways:
- seeds - today this is perhaps the easiest way, since the seed is extracted from dried goji berries, which are commercially available;
- cuttings - a very convenient way if nearby (friends or neighbors in the country) there is an adult wolfberry bush;
- root offspring - as in the previous case, the use of this method of reproduction is possible only if there is a mother bush that gives root shoots.
In addition, it is possible to purchase goji seedlings in specialized nurseries. But! Unscrupulous merchants, taking advantage of the increased demand for a miracle berry, often offer barberry seedlings, which are very similar in appearance, instead of dereza.
In the southern regions, goji bushes are planted as in early spring, as well as in autumn. In the mid-climate zone, only recommended spring planting so that young plants have time to acclimatize in a new place before the arrival of cold weather.
Growing goji from seeds
One goji berry contains about 15-30 seeds. To simplify their extraction, it is recommended to immerse the fetus in warm water for 3-4 hours. Fresh berries do not need soaking, but they should be handled with gloves - goji juice burns the skin of the hands. After extracting the seeds, to accelerate germination, it is useful to keep in a solution of any growth stimulant. Further sowing is carried out in the following order:
- Drainage is laid at the bottom of a low container, on top of which a medium-density soil mixture is poured.
- Goji seeds are sown to a depth of 0.5 cm.
- Crops carefully, so as not to blur, are watered from a spray bottle.
- The container is covered with a thin film and placed on a warm windowsill under diffused sunlight.
- After 7-10 days, the film can be removed.
- With the advent of the third pair of leaves, the seedlings dive into separate containers about 7 cm deep.
If sowing was carried out from January to March, then in the second decade of May, seedlings can be transferred to open ground. It is also allowed to keep goji at home as a pot culture. In this case, the seedlings are transplanted into larger containers and provide proper growth conditions - systematic watering, cool wintering (about + 10 °) and regular fertilization.
cuttings
To obtain cuttings, the shoot of an adult plant is cut into segments 10–12 cm long, after which each of them is dipped in a solution of a root-forming preparation and planted in a greenhouse for rooting. Best time for the event - the end of July - the beginning of August. The process of development of the root system lasts all winter. In the spring, strengthened bushes can be transplanted to a prepared site.
Rooting cuttings can be carried out in separate containers by placing them on an insulated balcony.
In the first months, goji grows very slowly and surprisingly resembles a tomato bush in appearance. Over time, the development of the seedling becomes more active, and in the 2-3rd year of development, the plant enters the flowering phase.
Transferring seedlings to open ground
Since in nature goji grows in mountainous areas, it does not impose special requirements on soils. Therefore, for an exotic guest, the most “uninhabited” corner of the garden is suitable, where more capricious cultures do not grow. The main condition is that the place for the miracle berry should be sunny. 2 weeks before planting, a planting hole is dug in the selected area with a diameter of 40–50 cm and a depth of 50–60 cm. Sand of a large fraction is poured into the bottom and the hole is half filled with fertile soil mixed with humus (1: 1). To increase the nutritional value, the substrate is seasoned with double superphosphate (150 g), potassium sulfate (30 g), wood ash (1 cup) and the resulting mixture is thoroughly mixed with a shovel. Next, the procedure is as follows:
- The seedling is placed vertically in the center of the pit, lifting it so that the root neck is at ground level.
- The empty space is filled with soil mixture.
- The soil around the stem is compacted and generously watered with settled water heated in the sun.
- The soil of the trunk circle is mulched with humus or dry peat.
Features of care
Due to the natural unpretentiousness of goji, caring for a plant is not difficult and consists in regularly carrying out the following agrotechnical measures:
Thanks to simple procedures, goji grows well and bears fruit in conditions middle lane without demanding attention to his modest person.
Collection and harvesting of berries
Goji fruiting begins from the third year after planting. Like sea buckthorn, the berries are densely covered with bush branches. Oblong fruits of bright orange or rich red color, also outwardly resembling sea buckthorn, only very large (about 2 cm), have a sweetish taste with a slight bitterness. The ripening of berries takes place throughout the summer, so they are harvested in several stages. In one season, such fertility of the crop allows you to harvest up to 12-13 crops. The yield of one adult bush is about 10 kg. The collected berries are dried at a temperature of about +50 ° C and stored in sealed glass or ceramic dishes. Dried goji tastes very similar to raisins.
Popular superfood. Someone considers them as a means for losing weight, someone as a source of health and longevity. In any case, these small red berries are an expensive treat. The good news is that this magical remedy can be grown on your own in your backyard.
In the article, we will consider what goji berries are, the features of their self-growing and care, what this will require.
Goji berry: description and types
Goji berries appear on the tree (when proper care can be 3.5 m high and above) Chinese dereza or ordinary dereza.
Did you know? The second popular name is Tibetan.Apparently this is a mistake, a mistranslation scientific name- Lycium barbarum. In fact, it translates as "Berber dereza" and not as "barberry". Name Tibetan barberry popular in Russia. Goji is Chinese word. And the British call it in their own way - the tea tree of the Duke of Argyll's teatree, in honor of a Scottish duke.
If chinese look plants in our latitudes are not very common, then common dereza quite accessible and well rooted and growing. The goji plant is a deciduous shrub with a spreading crown. The leaves are oval, fleshy, small, located along the entire length of thin branches. The roots are powerful and deep, give many shoots.
Apart from useful berries, the plant is also beautiful. The shrub blooms with lilac or purple-pink flowers. Flowering begins in May and continues until September.
Fruiting from the third year. The fruits are bright red oblong berries. Harvest can be harvested all summer, but the most valuable berries are harvested in August.
Is self-cultivation possible?
Dereza ordinary, the planting and care of which is discussed in the article, is well grown on household plots and even in room conditions. The shrub is unpretentious, frost-resistant. It can be used as both around the perimeter and inside the site.
Shrubs can be grown both from seeds and cuttings. Seeds can be obtained from soaked dry berries. Cuttings can be obtained from an adult plant.
conditions for growth
Dereza shrub does not require special care and attention. But still, when planting plants, some points should be taken into account.
Location selection
Boxthorn - fast growing plant with strong roots. It should be planted as a hedge or in empty areas.
Important! Be careful when landing on the site. Goji can destroy other plants.
The shrub will grow well in a little shade and in the sun. Withstands urban conditions. You can even grow at home, but requires special conditions when wintering at home.
Soil Requirements
Because of its durability, it does not impose special requirements on it. Grows well in neutral and alkaline soils. On sour it develops a little worse.
Dereza does not like stagnant water. Therefore, try to plant a bush in places with rocky soil.
How to plant a goji berry, propagation of a useful plant
As already mentioned, there is There are two ways to propagate this plant:
- seeds;
- cuttings.
from seed
Seeds can be obtained from dried berries. To do this, soak the berries and wait for them to soften. Now the seeds can be easily removed. For better germination soak the seeds in the seed solution, after which they are ready for sowing. Sow in a container filled with a mixture of ordinary soil (approximately 2:1 ratio). Seeding depth - 2-3 mm.
To increase the humidity in the container, cover it and place it in a dark, warm place. After the appearance of the first sprouts, take the container to the light. Protect from drafts and hypothermia. Treat young plants with a spray gun so as not to damage the shoots. After a week, you can remove the film.
After the appearance of 3-4 leaves, the plants can be picked and planted in individual pots. The container for transplantation should be deep. Goji roots develop quickly and grow down, not in breadth. When transplanting, hook the seedling as low as possible and plant it together with an earthen clod.
Landing in open ground is carried out in early summer or spring, after the end of frost.
cuttings
Plant seedlings of dereza in the spring. In autumn, planting can be carried out in warm regions.
Prepare holes about half a meter deep and wide, where you will plant cuttings in two weeks. The bottom of the pit is filled (stones, sand), with a mixture of soil and, add -,. Place the seedling so that the root neck is at ground level. Cover with soil and water. trunk circle better . Tie a young bush to a support or immediately install a trellis.
Important! Place seedlings at least 2 meters apart.
Plant small goji berry seedlings grown on your own in 20 x 20 cm holes filled with earth and, this planting method will provide and good care after them.
Basic rules of care
Young goji plants require attention in their first year of growth.
Watering
Dereza bush tolerates drought well. during the first year it is required no more than 2 times a week. In the future, it is possible and less often, depending on the dryness of the weather.
Recently, goji berries have been widely spoken about, recommending them not only as a way to lose weight, but also to treat various diseases. How to grow this natural Tibetan healer in the country, how to collect fruits, how useful they are, you will learn right now.
For the first time shrub-type trees, called goji berries, appeared in Tibet. Gradually, the plant spread far beyond its homeland. It can be grown in our country in many areas, with the exception of the northern ones. In the southern regions, and having the same temperatures as in the middle latitudes, the shrub will grow well, so it tolerates frosts up to 30 ° C well. The plant is resistant to weather vagaries, as it comes from mountainous regions, where there are droughts and frosts, storm winds, and prolonged downpours.
A fruit plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, to the genus Dereza. Culturally grows in Tibet, the Himalayas, in China - in the Ningxia region. Sometimes found in Australia, Asia, America, North Africa. The goji berry bush bears fruit, depending on the region, in July - October or May - September. The most valuable harvest is considered to be August.
Why grow goji berries?
The plant is quite unpretentious, not demanding on the soil composition and decorative. It blooms for a long time with purple-pink bell-shaped flowers, decorating gardens.
Its ripened fruits resemble an enlarged copy of sea buckthorn berries, but they are oblong, 1.2 cm long and Orange color more saturated. The branches of the goji bush, like those of the sea buckthorn, are covered with thin thorns.
An unformed shrub grows up to 3.5 meters. It can be planted along the fence and used as a hedge, not only here, but also to divide suburban area to zones. Goji tolerates shearing well, so you can give the plant the desired shape.
In addition to decorative qualities, this representative of the Tibetan flora is a natural healer. No wonder it is called a cure for 1000 diseases. Here are just some of the ailments in which the fruits of goji berries are taken, with:
- anemia;
- back pain;
- violation of potency;
- diabetes mellitus;
- elevated cholesterol levels;
- visual impairment;
- insomnia;
- adenoids, diseases of the nasopharynx;
- obesity.
Attention! Do not eat fresh goji berries, as they contain toxic substances. They must be dried first. How to do this and how to collect berries will be described below.
Video about the benefits of goji berries:
You can propagate a plant in order to plant it in your backyard farm, not only with cuttings, but also with seeds. The second method is suitable for those who do not have seedlings, but have berries.
A plant grown in this way will bloom in the second year, and you will begin to harvest mass crops in 4-5 years. Seeds are located directly in the berry in an amount of up to 30 pieces.
If the berry was dried at a temperature not higher than + 50 ° C, then its seeds are viable. If you have fresh berries in front of you, use gloves to work with them, as the juice can burn your hands.
They are easier to extract if you put the fruit of the plant for an hour in warm water. The removed seeds are placed on a moistened cloth overnight. For better germination, it is better to soak them for 4 hours in one of the growth stimulants.
Then they are sown in well-drained soil of medium looseness, preferably neutral reaction. A mixture of loam and peat in a ratio of 2: 1 is suitable.
Goji berry seeds should be sown on the surface, deepening into moist soil by only 2-3 mm, so that thin sprouts make their way out unhindered.
Goji seeds germinate at +20 - +25°C. It is important that the soil is moist, so the container is covered with a film or glass. Under such conditions, evaporation is slower.
When the seeds germinate, slightly open the film from the side of the room. If the soil is dry, spray it with water from a spray bottle, making a scattered stream so as not to damage the seedlings. Remove the entire film after a week.
Goji seedlings dive when the second or third pair of leaves appears on them. Then plant each in a separate pot. It should be at least 7 cm deep. If you germinate seeds in January-March, then in mid-May you can plant plants in the garden. If you want to grow further indoors, then you need to provide the goji bush with enough light, plant it in a large container, and keep it cool in winter - at a temperature of + 10 ° C degrees. feed home plant humus, a weak solution of mineral fertilizers.
Planting seedlings
If you want to grow goji berries with seedlings, then you need to prepare pits with a diameter of 40 and a width and depth of 50 cm 2 weeks before planting. You can plant purchased goji seedlings or those that you have grown from seeds in these. In the southern regions, it is better to do this in the fall, and in cooler regions - in the spring, so that the plant is strong enough and tolerates frost well.
To the bottom landing pit coarse-grained sand is poured, then it is half filled with fertile soil and humus (8 kg each), add: 150 g double superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate or a glass of wood ash, mix thoroughly with a shovel. After that, they put a seedling, raising the root collar to ground level, sprinkle it with fertile soil and water it. The trunk circle is mulched with peat or humus. Seedlings should be placed at least 2 meters apart.
How to propagate goji berry cuttings
In July-August or at the end of April, carefully cut goji cuttings 10 cm long so that 1–2 cm of old wood remains on them. Moisten the bottom of the cuttings in water and dip their cut in Kornevin and plant them in the greenhouse. Plant rooted seedlings on permanent place, covering them for the winter with spruce branches.
In the first months, the plant develops slowly and resembles a tomato bush. small size. Then the goji grows more intensively, its branches are covered with long leaves, at the 2-3rd year of its life the bush blooms.
How to care for goji berries
Pay special attention to care in the first year of the plant's life. It needs to be watered infrequently, if there is no rain, periodically fertilize, weed out, loosen the soil around the trunk.
It is easier to pick berries from a low bush. But on this goji fruit will be larger. Therefore, trim the branches so that the plant is not too tall.
This question interests many. The fact is that the juice of fresh fruits can cause skin irritation, like pineapple juice. Therefore, goji berries must be collected in this way: spread a cloth under a bush and knock down the berries. In this case, it is better to wear gloves on your hands.
It is important to let goji berries ripen well on the bush, they should turn bright red, as eating unripe fresh berries can cause poisoning.
The collected berries are dried in the shade, without using an oven, and then they are separated from the stalk. For them to buy medicinal properties fruits must be well dried. This process is complete when the skin of the goji berries begins to peel off.
Video about growing goji berries at home and care:
