This is the fifth post in a new series, in which @papa-pepper will share about different plants that they plan on growing on the homestead, and why.
Our fifth featured plant is the Goji Berry, and we even have two kinds already started!
GOJI BERRY VIDEO
BACKGROUND
IN more recent years, the Goji Berry has made a name for itself as a "superfood" with incredibly properties. They can now be found at health food stores all over the place. Originally from Asia, the dried fruit, and sometimes even the plants, can now be found worldwide.
PLANT INFO
The Goji Berry plant is a type of shrub that can look like a vine. It is drought tolerant and can live for years. It takes a few years to start bearing fruit if it is grown from seed, but I say that it is worth the wait. We have grown some successfully from seed and they have overwintered well here in northern Arkansas.
The claimed USDA growing zones vary, but I think that it is not unrealistic to claim zones 6-9 being good areas. The plants prefer full sun, but can tolerate some shade. It seems that in extreme heat, some varieties will lose most of their leaves, but thankfully not die. A few times we though that we had lost ours, but it always kept growing.
OTHER INFO
When it comes to health and nutrition, the Goji Berry is a very nutritious berry most notably high in Vitamin A and Copper. They are high in antioxidants and may help boost the immune system too. Another use for them is making tea, which is less common in certain areas.
The leaves and young shoots are also edible and can be used as a cooked green. Since the raw berries do not last long, you will usually only find dried berries for sale, unless someone near you actually grows the plants themselves.
PROPAGATION
Interestingly enough, you can actually grow these wonderful plants from the seeds that the dried berries have inside of them, depending on the drying method used to dehydrate the berries. I have planted single seeds, while other steemians like @kepo777 suggest just planting the whole berry.
Additionally, these plants can be propagated from cuttings. I recently met a man who is growing multiple varieties, including one which called a "Korean Goji Berry." This variety seems to be more heat tolerant, and he has been propagating them from cuttings.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
With the "price on the street" for dried Goji Berries often being almost $20 USD per pound, they may not fit into everyone's food budget. This is why we prefer to grow whatever we can at home, Goji Berries included.
With two varieties already growing, we are excited about the potential. I honestly would not mind have many of these plants growing on our homestead one day.
It is nice to see that even small, young plants can produce something to eat, and it was amazing to check out the much larger, mature plants at my friend's house. The Korean ones that he has apparently have two crops per year, with the second one being the better of the two. His plants had hundreds of berries on each of them, and they had recently harvested some too! I can't wait!
All photos, video, and writing are original, but some research was done at this website and here also.
IN CASE YOU MISSED MY PREVIOUS VIDEOS FROM THIS SERIES
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-goji-berry-plant
Until next time…
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I attempted to plant some earlier in the spring. I just couldn't get the seeds to germinate and sprout.
Made me sad, I was looking forward to adding to my garden
We got ours to grow. Maybe you should try again.
I probably will next year. If anything, I am always determined and don't like defeat.
Excellent post, keep up the great steemin' Upvoted, resteemed, and followed @rishherbalist
Someday, you might wish you never planted them :) They send up shoots all over the place!! Which is great if you want lots or if you want to sell them. Endless supply of plants. dig them up, pot them up - done.
There are lots of varieties and some are way better than others. Right now, I have one growing in my backyard I only use for smoothies. The one in front is really good and that is the one I am propagating.
Some are tough and survive the Colorado Winters. You find wolf berries all along the railroad - a gift from the Chinese railroad workers...
Interesting. If you ever have some extra cuttings, shoots, or seeds, let me know. Papa likes stuff like that!
I will keep that in mind!!
If I'm not mistaken in the first photo of the berries "goji." We have very expensive, I used them to lose weight. But nothing happened. Money goes to the wind.
Cool
I love Goji Berry! I always put it into soup or blend it with fruits.
Cool! We love it too!
Cool. I have never seen a fresh one. They look like they would be good fresh off the plant...But maybe you have to dry them first.
You can eat them either way.
I see heaven in the pictures👌👍🌸
I used to have a plant at my old house. I need to get another an plant it at my new house.
You should! I would have taken it with me.
Loving Goji! Too sweet, never tried fresh ones, her in Italy you can find it only dry and they are really expansive..
If they are expensive, just buy a few and plant them. Then you can grow your own.
I didn't think about It... you're right, thanx for the advice!✌
I love goji berries! I wasn't aware they can grow in North American climates. Interesting. Good luck!
I've seen the proof, they grow, so I grow!
Oh goood post kindly informe from where we get seed of this plant ?
You get the seed inside the fruit.
Love the goji berry.., they help to increase hgh (human growth hormone) production. I just drop a few in my bottled water.
I hear it's good for all sorts of stuff! Thanks @macksby!
although small fruit but very useful this fruit, if in our place it almost similar to starfruit acid when it is dry ,, I really like this post ,,,
Goji Berries are a super food.
They are so good, that many have wondered when The US is going to ban them.
So, get your cuttings started if you are in a good zone to grow them in.
That's right! Get them now!
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They grow wild along the railroad tracks in some areas around here and down into Utah. Chinese miners planted them back in the day. I think you will do well with them there. Although the deer keeping munching mine back to a nub. Need a better fence... spring project.
I never knew that. Very cool.
Great info. Planing to plant a fig.
Cool! Figs are great!
Very informative post. Do you know if grow goji berries would get along with the mediterranean weather?
Not sure.
I haven't seen this plant in our area. May be not growing in our climate. Also didn't see the berried in super market.
By the way, it seems that you are investing a significant amount of time for posts there. That's good and you are getting response. congratulations.
After seeing the nutrition value, i say that i should try this goji berries. I will look more closely when I will be in super market next time.
Wow, another great plant to explore, thanks to my dear wild man for being so innovative and kind to share all these info with us...you will always get my upvote bud....keep steeming and greetings to @papa-pepper clan.
I commented on your former posts however my comments were lost hence why you didnt see it... due to bug
that caused posts visibility to be low. It affeced my latest post which outlined some solutions about the problem, feel free to see it and note the tips
Thank you my friend. I will see if I make it over there.
you are welcome and thanks for making it and sending in your support
Been wanting to try growing these Goji berries. I will have look for some at the nurseries or maybe some fresh at the organic store. Thanks for a good post. 🐓🐓
More of this PaPa! Love learnin' bout wild edibles and just useful plants in general! Good stuff!
You can also use the leaves to make a tea that's really high in antioxidants.
We LOVE
I was looking around and you can get starter goji plants beginning at about $10 (including shipping) from sellers with very high to perfect feedback if you have as much trouble starting seeds as I do.
Signed: Not a black thumb but doing OK ;-)
LOL - Good, thanks for sharing. Some things are not always easy!
We just purchased 4 Goji Berrry bushes from a fruit tree co-op and we are SO excited to see how they do here in Central Kentucky!