About Goji Berry Plants
Goji berry, also called wolfberry or matrimony vine, is a woody, deciduous fruiting shrub in the nightshade family. It produces small purple flowers followed by elongated orange-red berries that can be eaten fresh, dried, frozen, or incorporated into cooked recipes.
Growth habit varies among plants and cultivars. Some develop a fairly upright form, while others produce long, flexible branches that arch or trail toward the ground. Small spines may be present, although their number and size vary. An unpruned plant can become tall, sprawling, and difficult to harvest, while regular pruning generally keeps it between approximately 3 and 6 feet tall.
What to do When Your Goji Berry Plant Arrives
Open the shipping box promptly after delivery and carefully remove the plant and packing materials. Handle the plant by the container or root area rather than pulling it by the canes. Inspect the soil, crown, stems, and foliage. A few bent leaves, broken tips, or dropped leaves may occur during shipping and do not necessarily indicate that the plant is unhealthy.
Goji is deciduous in colder climates. Plants shipped during late fall, winter, or early spring may arrive with bare-looking canes, swelling buds, or little visible foliage. This is normal. Plants shipped during the growing season may arrive fully leafed out.
Check the soil before watering and if it feels dry approximately one inch below the surface, water slowly and thoroughly. If it is already moist, allow the plant to drain and wait before watering again.
Place actively growing plants in a bright, sheltered outdoor location for the first few days. Gradually increase their exposure to full sunlight over approximately one week. Then, plant as soon as practical, but avoid working in frozen, saturated, or extremely muddy soil. If planting must be delayed briefly, keep the roots protected and the soil evenly moist.
When to Plant Goji Berry Plants
Spring is generally the best time to plant. Wait until the ground has thawed, the soil can be worked, and the danger of severe frost has passed. Planting before summer heat allows the roots to establish while temperatures are moderate.
Fall planting may also be successful in regions with mild winters. Ideally, allow enough time for the roots to begin establishing before the ground freezes. If the ground begins to freeze but the soil is still workable, plant immediately and mulch well. If the ground is already frozen and cannot be properly worked, protect the plant in a cold, sheltered location like an attached garage, and plant it as soon as the soil becomes workable in spring.
Where to Plant Goji Berry Plants
Choose a full sun location with excellent drainage and good air circulation. Avoid low areas where rainwater collects or where the soil remains wet for several days after a storm. Hot, relatively dry growing conditions tend to produce better-quality berries than cool, humid weather.
Because the shrub can produce underground shoots, avoid placing it directly beside a vegetable bed, property line, foundation, or carefully maintained perennial border. A location beside a fence or simple trellis can be particularly useful. The support keeps flexible branches upright, improves airflow, and makes the berries much easier to see and harvest.
Goji generally prefers neutral to moderately alkaline soil around pH 7 to 8. Test the soil before making major pH adjustments. Do not apply lime simply because the plant tolerates alkalinity; soil that is already neutral or alkaline may not need any correction. Prepare a broad area rather than improving only the individual planting hole. Roots eventually spread well beyond the original container.
How to Plant Goji Berry Plants in the Ground
Dig a hole approximately twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than the existing root system. Carefully remove the plant from its nursery container. Support the root ball rather than pulling on the stems.
If roots circle tightly around the outside of the root ball, gently loosen or redirect the outermost roots with your fingers.
Position the plant at approximately the same depth it was growing in its container and keep the crown level with or slightly above the surrounding soil rather than burying it deeply. Backfill with the prepared native soil. Gently firm the soil around the root ball to eliminate large air pockets, but do not pack it heavily.
Water slowly and thoroughly after planting so the original root ball and surrounding soil are evenly moistened. Apply approximately two to three inches of organic mulch over the root zone. Aged wood chips, shredded bark, chopped leaves, or clean straw can help conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Keep mulch several inches away from the crown and lower stems.
How to Plant your Goji Berry Plant in a Container
Goji grows well in a large container, especially where space is limited or its spreading roots need containment. Choose a sturdy 18 to 24 inch wide and deep container with good drainage and fill with a loose, well-drained potting mix. Repot as the plant becomes root-bound. In cold climates, move the container to a sheltered, unheated location or insulate the pot to protect the roots from severe freezing.
How to Care for Goji Berry Plants
Check the soil regularly during the first season and water deeply when the upper layer begins to dry. Established goji plants need about one inch of water per week, with consistent moisture especially important during flowering and fruiting. Avoid both prolonged drought and waterlogged soil. Goji requires little fertilizer but benefits from a stake, cage, fence, or trellis to support its branches and improve airflow.
Fruit develops on current-season growth, so pruning can encourage productive new branches and maintain an open shape. Berries typically ripen from midsummer through late fall over an extended period. Harvest when they are fully orange-red to red and tender rather than firm.