Grow your own goji's! Now you can grow goji's at home - as easy to grow as tomatoes! Goji plants do not require a rich soil - they flower and fruit better in a well-drained soil of moderate quality. Our packs contain approx 200 goji (Lycium Barbarum) seeds to ensure the best quality healthy seeds from which to grow your goji plants.
Sow seeds as soon as possible. If you do not want to use them all at once, store in a paper bag/envelope in a cool dry place. Seeds that have been stored can be soaked in water for up to 8 hours before planting or placed in a fridge for a couple of hours to help the germination process begin.
Soil: use any medium soil; loam-based or peat-based compost, vermiculite, perlite, etc. Sow thinly in one-fourth to one-half inch deep in loose, well draining soil and sprinkle 5mm of fine/dry compost on top of seeds to cover, water gently with a light spray. Place on a warm window sill in shade or indirect sunlight and keep moist. An electric propagator will speed up the germination process if desired. The seeds will germinate between 5 and 10 days, depending on the temperature. Once sprouted, seedlings should be gradually acclimated to direct sunlight until well established.
Water seedlings regularly, keep soil well-drained and do not allow to become waterlogged. When leaves develop, carefully pot into 3 inch pots. Place in a sunny but sheltered position or in a greenhouse or conservatory. When the plant is 3 or 4 inches tall, pinch growing tip to encourage bushiness. Once established, they will be quite hardy and prolific growers, reaching maturity in 4-5 years, and standing 10'-12' high with vines reaching to 20' in length. Heavy pruning of the plant will keep it looking neat and will encourage flowering and fruiting.
Hints and Tips:Be careful not to over-water - goji plants are very drought tolerant. They do not require a rich soil - they arebest grown in soil of moderate quality. They like a sunny position and are hardy down to -15c. Keep well drained, mix sand or gravel if necessary to aid drainage.
Depending on the amount of sunlight, the plants may not produce any flowers or fruit in their first year. In the second year, they will flower first with small trumpet-shaped purple and white flowers in early summer, followed by plump, juicy, bright-red fruits. The plant will continue to flower and produce fruit right up until the first heavy frost. Heavy yields can be expected from Goji plants that are 4 to 5 years old. Typcially, only 2 year old plants will produce 1-2kg of goji berries! The sweet fresh gojis can be picked when red and eaten straight away. Gojis will oxidise and turn black if touched by hand, so if they are to be kept for a period of time or dried then they should be shaken off the plant and collected in a tea towel or cloth.
