Gojiberry (Lycium Barbarum) Fruit Bush 3ltr Pot

About Gojiberry

One of nature’s best kept secrets! Originating in the Himalayan highlands, it is thought to be one of the most powerful nutritional and anti-ageing foods. The attractive red berries have a mild, sweet liquorice flavour and contain more vitamin C than an orange! They can be eaten fresh or dried on their own, or put in with muesli. The fruit is also rich in anti-oxidants and trace elements. Hardy and drought tolerant, Gojiberries are extremely easy to grow and highly prolific. The berries are best harvested by gently shaking the branches to avoid damaging the fruit by hand picking.

• Self fertile
• Planting Distance 2.5m apart
• Height & Spread 3.5mm x 2m
• Crops Late Summer

Native to the Himalayas, the goji berry is a relatively new addition to UK kitchens. Popularly known as a superfood, this berry is full of vitamin C, antioxidants and has anti-aging properties. These easy to grow fruit bushes produce tall hedges of long green leaves that the long red berries hang from. Fresh goji berries have a tart flavor like a cranberry, but with a slightly woody, raisin taste. The tartness of the berry makes it an ideal ingredient for baking into cakes of flapjacks where the sugars will lessen the tartness a bit. If you are looking for a health kick, then a goji berry smoothie is a fantastic way to start the day.

How to grow goji berries.

Place your goji berry in a sunny location that has a well-draining soil of any type. This is a drought tolerant fruit bush, so you don't need to water too regularly, however in the first month water well until the plant is establish, then water once a week to keep the soil moist, but not wet. Plant your bushes one meter apart. Weed the surrounding soil to remove any competition from the plant and mulch in the winter to keep the roots safe from frost. Prune old, damaged stems in the spring to encourage new growth throughout the growing season.

How to harvest goji berries

Goji berries are ready to harvest once the fruits are firm to the touch and consistently red all round. To harvest, simply pick from the stem.

How to store goji berries

If you want to preserve your goji berries so you have a supply for the whole year you have a few options available to you, note you should wash your fruits before preserving I any way. Freezing is the simplest way of preserving the fruit. They will keep for up to a year in a sealed freezer bag. Another way of preservation is to dry the fruit. First blanch in a bowl of boiling water for a minute. Then Let the berries sit in a bowl of water that is one part water to parts sugar for five to ten minutes. Drain off the syrup and pat dry and place in a very low oven on a lined baking sheet for 8-12 hours. Use your dried fruit in a muesli or as a healthy snack.