Growing

GROWING

Goji (lat. Lycium barbarum) 

Goji or “Gou Qi Zi” originates from Tibet. Because of its use for 6.000 years, this plant is considered holly. It has been used for good health and energy and especially for good eye sight for centuries. It is one of the most profitable fruit for growing, and it’s double as good as aronia.

It can grow up to 2-3 meters high. The berries are juicy, orange-red color, oblong shaped, they’re 1-2 cm long, and each of them contains up to 60 very tiny seeds which mature from July till October. The taste is sweet. It is the leading medicine for cardiovascular system by Ancient Chinese Medicine. Because of their pleasant taste, goji berries can be consumed fresh or dried, in a fresh juice form or a dried berries tea or as an addition to drinks and dishes.

Growing

It likes the climate area of Serbia and it has been successfully grown in our country. It tolerates drought but during the first year after planting it must be occasionally watered. It thrives in dry, barren (nutritionally poor) land, and in sandy and clay soils in coastal area. The best PH value of the soil is alkali soil of pH 6.5 and higher. It can stand very high temperatures over the summer (up to 40°C/104°F), and extremely low temperatures in winter (‑40°C/‑40°F). It is completely resistant to frost, and as far as pests and diseases you can only use organic solvents such as '' Perfit '' (organic biocide).

Planting goji

Goji likes plenty of sun and the best place for its planting is the place that is illuminated by the sun all day. It can be planted during the whole year. If it is planted in summer, plants must be watered more often. For the best results, it must be generously watered, there should be enough water during the summer, every other morning or evening you must water the plant.

The planting distance between the plants in a row is 1.6-2 m and between the rows from 2.2 to 2.5 m.

Spring and summer planting

It must be planted in the pit size 40x50 cm (16‑20’’), at a distance of 1.5-2 meters away  from each other, depending on where and how to plant them (garden or plantation). Spread the pit with lime powder, then prepare mix of 3:1:1 – organic fertilizer, fragmented soil and sludge soil (a mixture of river sand silt), and add 500 grams of zeolite granules. Stir the mixture well and fill the pit up to 35 cm, then add water so that it remains up to the top 15-20 cm for seedlings. Remove plants from pots and put it in the pit. After planting pour the mixture previously homogeneously mixed in a bucket: substrate, hydrogel (with water) and one bucket zeolite powder, so that you get a mushy yogurt-like mixture. Water well the entire surface and press it gently by hand. Water the plants for a few days after planting and amend the same mixture of fertilizers. Put the 1.5-2 m stick in the soil next to the plant and tie it loosely to the plant. When the plant is young, it is necessary to be watered regularly.

Autumn and winter planting

Dig a pit of 40cm of width and 50cm of depth, at a distance of 1.5-2 m from each other, depending on where they are to be planted, and how(garden or plantations). Spread the lime powder. Then prepare mix of 2:1:1 – organic fertilizer, fragmented soil and sludge soil (a mixture of river sand silt), and add 500 grams of zeolite granules and fill in the pit to the top. You can use substratum instead of organic fertilizer and mix it with soil and zeolite, and fill the pit to the top. Then, use a cylindrical shaped item of 8 cm (3 inches) of radius to impress the pit of 15 cm (6 inches) of depth where the root system of the plant is to be placed and then fill it with yogurt-like thick mixture of substratum, hydrogel (with water) and a tablespoon of zeolite powder. At the end fill the pit around the plant with fragmented soil, water it and press it gently by hand. Put a stick next to the plant and tie it loosely to it.

Harvesting

The harvesting time is from August till October, earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon. Because only the ripe berries are harvested, we can pick them until the first frost. The best way of harvesting is to shake the plant and the berries will fall on the sheet (we do not recommend to pick them up by hands because of oxidation which starts when the berries get in touch with hands or gloves). The berries have lightly sorrow-sweet taste. The fresh berries resemble on cranberries, dry grapes, carrot and cherry mix taste when tasted. Dried berries have softer and sweeter taste.

Young leaves are to be harvested in the spring, they must be dried in solar drier and packed in paper packing. It is used for preparing the traditional Chinese therapy tea. Fresh young leaves and shoots of goji are used as green vegetables and can be used as an addition to soups and broths. They just need to have a good wash and to be heat-treated.
The bark of the root is collected in the spring and autumn. After digging, the root must be washed well, the bark that is dried in the sun or in the dryer must be undressed. The dry goji root bark is used to treat inflammatory and skin diseases