Boxthorn - Goji Berry [Lycium barbarum]

The perennial goji berry is an old and hardy berry bush in traditional Chinese medicine. The berries are considered a 'superfood' and taste fruity and sweet. They are ideal for embankment stabilization. Ideal for pre-cultivation, pot culture possible, sowing in spring, good for mixed culture, harvesting the fruits.

 Description 
The goji berry is a very old perennial berry bush with its origins in China and Mongolia. In traditional Chinese medicine, the plant has been used for thousands of years to cure various ailments. In the Himalayan regions of Tibet, the berries have a particularly juicy and sweet taste and the highest concentration of vital substances and are considered the "fruit of longevity". The hardy, summer green and woody shrub grows quickly and forms a dense root system, which is ideal for embankment reinforcement and soil stabilization. The berries have a sweet taste, are eaten fresh or dried and used to strengthen the yin. In many parts of the world, it is considered a so-called 'superfood' due to its very high vital substance density and is used as a dietary supplement.

 General information 
Plant family: Solanaceae
Life cycle: Perennial
Days to harvest: 3-5 years
Plant height approx.: 300 cm
Root type: Heart rooter, forming runners
Nutrient requirements: High
Water requirements: Medium
Winter hardiness: Up to -25°C
Location: Sunny
Soil: Permeable, loamy, humus, calcareous

pH value: 6.5 to 8.5

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Light germinator
Sowing depth: 0 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 15-20 °C
Germination time: 14-21 days
Plant and row spacing: 200x200 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 2-3 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: -
Unfavorable mixed culture: -

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Pre-cultivation in small bowls from March to August is recommended. The plants should ideally be placed in a sunny location.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Pre-cultivation in small bowls from March to June is recommended. The plants should ideally be placed in a sunny location.

 General recommendations 
For pre-cultivation, sow the seeds in a small bowl and let the seedlings grow until the first visible goji leaves appear, then transplant them into the desired container. After transplanting, let the seedlings grow at moderate temperatures until they are ready to be planted out as seedlings. Plant the seedlings in the bed from the second pair of leaves after the cotyledons.
The goji berry ideally prefers a soil that is moist, permeable, nutrient-rich, calcareous and contains plenty of humus and clay. It does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
The plants also grow on light sandy soils and in saline environments. The root system can be very invasive once the plant has established itself. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water retention capacity, additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock flour is recommended.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds and cuttings.

 Plant care 
Regular pruning encourages branching and new growth. In the following year, thin out to five to six thicker shoots. Loosened, nutrient-rich and moist soil is fundamentally important for growth and quality fruit formation. Tolerates water fluctuations. Fertilizing once a year is recommended, depending on the condition of the soil.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Lycium barbarum
English names: Boxthorn, Goji berry
German names: Bocksdorn, Goji Beere, Teufelszwirn, Hexenzwirn
Portuguese names: Goji
Spanish names: Baya de Goji
French names: Baie de Goji

 Origin 
Country: Germany