Hibernate goji berries properly

Wintering the goji plant

The plant survives in the wild in winter without any protection, so you can use your shrub overwinter in the garden. It is very frost-resistant and can withstand temperatures down to minus 25 degrees. Young gojiBerryHowever, that you've just put in the garden need winter protection.

The plant can also freeze to death in the bucket. You need to protect the root area in planters from the cold.

Please pay attention to the following:

• Only older goji berries that have been in the garden for more than two years do not need winter protection.
• A thick layer of leaves or mulch protects young plants from frost.
• Protect the root area of ​​potted plants with foil or fleece.
• Also place the container with the plants in a sheltered place.

Caring for the goji berry

The shrubs are undemanding and easy to care for. But do not buy wild forms if you want to harvest plenty of fruit. Big Lifeberry and Sweet Lifeberry are good cultivated forms

Care of the goji plant

measure	Hints
Location	Sunny and warm
Plant spacing	2 m Roots form runners, a rhizome barrier makes sense.
Substrate	No special requirements compost work into the soil when planting.
Planting time	April May
Planting depth	Bury the root ball 30 cm deep.
to water	Give a lot of water after setting. Water once a week later if it is dry.
Fertilize	Put compost in the spring.
cut	In spring and autumn Leave only 5 shoots. Shorten the branches to 50 cm in length. Shoots must not touch the ground, otherwise the plant will grow wild.
Overwinter	No winter protection necessary
Multiply	Seeds, cuttings, sinkers
Diseases	mildewif the plant is not pruned enough.
miscellaneous	Tie up branches that are too long on stakes.

Interesting information about the shrub

The goji berry is also known as wolfberry. The shrub reaches a height of two to four meters in a very short time. The bushes tend to grow wild, a branch that touches the ground gets roots after a few days.

From June onwards, purple flowers appear on the shrub and from August onwards there are red or orange-yellow goji berries. If you don't protect them from birds with a net, you will hardly get any of the berries. Harvest these in late August or early September when they get cute and a little soft.

Goji berries can be eaten fresh, dried or frozen. Dried berries are good for a muesli. If you want, you can also use the berries to make juice or jam.

The berries are considered healthy and are used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat various diseases. The fact is, they're high in antioxidants, carbohydrates, fiber, proteins, lutein, and zeaxanthin. The last two substances are good for the eyes. But carrots and other red fruits are just as healthy.

Enjoy the beautiful bushes and the taste of the berries. A miracle cure won't grow in your garden, but a shrub that you can easily overwinter and care for.