Firecracker Goji Berry
Lycium barbarum. Self Pollinating and early! Goji berries are renowned for their health benefits. The thornless plants of this variety have long flexible canes of gray-green foliage, with purple/white blooms followed by scarlet-red fruit. Firecracker is one of the earliest to ripen. This 'superfruit' is juicy, sweet and can be used fresh in a salad, blended in a smoothie, dried like a cranberry or frozen. The plants grow up-right 5 to 8 feet, with up to 10 feet of spread. Hardy to zone 3 with protection. 4" pot.
Spring Planting: this product will be shipped late April through May according to hardiness zone.
Scroll down for more details and growing information.
Sold as: Pkg of 1
Details
Growing Information
Important! Upon Arrival:
Keep moist and cool. Fruits and berries are shipped in dormant form so they can be transplanted out once the soil can be worked in the spring. Light frosts will not damage the plants as they are in the resting stage. If you are unable to plant immediately, the plants can be stored for a short period of time. This should be a dark, cool (but not freezing) location such as an unheated garage, fridge or a cold cellar. They should also be kept moist, but not wet, until they are planted.
Planting:
These long-lived woody perennials are easy to grow. The plants are self-fertile, so you don’t require more than 1 to produce berries. Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil and pH between 6.8 to 8.1. Do not enrich your soil prior to planting – Gogi berries do not thrive in overly fertile soil. To plant - soak the bare roots in room-temperature water for about 15-minutes. Plant the roots in a hole ensuring that the crown is level with the top of the soil. Back-fill soil around the roots. Water well and push more soil around the plant if necessary. Apply an inch or two of mulch to help with moisture retention. Space your plants 4 feet apart in rows spaced 8 feet apart. Water regularly through the first season. When established, Gogi berries are drought tolerant.
Growing:
Flowers will begin to mature into edible berries late in summer, and continue well into the fall. Berries can be collected once they begin to dry out, and should be collected with care. Goji berries are very sensitive to touch. When mature, each plant will produce approximately 1 quart of berries.
Pruning:
Pruning is normally done in the winter, but they can also be gently trimmed throughout the season to shape the canopy and to improve berry yield. First identify the largest, healthiest shoot, which will be the main trunk. Then, gradually remove the lower lateral shoots, with the goal of keeping the trunk clear for the first 15 inches, and then when your Goji plant reaches 24 inches, remove the growing tip to stimulate the growth of additional side branches. To prune adult plants, just remove the branches above the maximum height you want. You can also identify any ineffective branches. These usually grow very fast, straight and smooth and will not be very productive, so if they aren’t essential to the overall look, they can simply be removed.
Pests/Diseases:
Gogi berries are not bothered by pests or diseases.