Goji berry (Lycium barbarum)

Richard · 11-03-2014, 07:30 PM

The Goji berries you buy in the store typically come from Lycium barbarum. This plant originated in temperate parts of China; i.e., zones 9-10. In the western U.S. it is propagated commercially by LaVerne Nursery (wholesale plant grower) and sold to retail stores. It does very well here in San Diego county - in fact it can be invasive if you don't control the seedlings and suckers. On the flip side, it has bountiful harvests. I've been harvesting about 1 cup per day for the past few weeks.

pmurphy · 11-04-2014, 03:44 PM

My bush is finished for the season and surprisingly it produced fruit TWICE this year - we had a mild spring for the first small crop and then a second larger one that finished about a month ago

FYI, Aldergrove - here in BC - now has the province's first commercial goji fields, and they are zone 7b

Aldergrove farmer believes goji berries have a bright future in B.C.

Richard · 11-04-2014, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmurphy

... FYI, Aldergrove - here in BC - now has the province's first commercial goji fields, and they are zone 7b ...

Not sure which species they are growing: L. barbarum or L. chinense. The latter are not as sweet. Here's two photos from the article
Aldergrove farmer - photos

BTW, the article states that the plants don't bear fruit the first couple years after planting. That would be true if they are planted from seed. Otherwise Goji plants at nurseries are typically already at fruit bearing age.

pmurphy · 11-05-2014, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Not sure which species they are growing: L. barbarum or L. chinense. The latter are not as sweet. Here's two photos from the article
Aldergrove farmer - photos

BTW, the article states that the plants don't bear fruit the first couple years after planting. That would be true if they are planted from seed. Otherwise Goji plants at nurseries are typically already at fruit bearing age.

I double checked my plant and it is L. barbarum, which is the only one that can be purchased retail at garden centers here.
Not sure which type the farm has but I'm sure the info regarding fruiting in the article could be an error, or misquote as don't think they would plant 10 acres from seed....probably took a couple of years to just acquire and plant that many. And they probably had fruit those first few years but this is the first year for a commercially viable crop.

Richard · 11-05-2014, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmurphy

I double checked my plant and it is L. barbarum, which is the only one that can be purchased retail at garden centers here.
Not sure which type the farm has but I'm sure the info regarding fruiting in the article could be an error, or misquote as don't think they would plant 10 acres from seed....probably took a couple of years to just acquire and plant that many. And they probably had fruit those first few years but this is the first year for a commercially viable crop.

Yes, I agree. The article also states:

Quote:

With a few helpful connections in China, and all the expertise of the Fraser Valley’s blueberry and raspberry growers in his backyard, Breederland set out to become B.C.’s first commercial goji berry grower.

I think they are implying knowledge of cultivation from China and not the plants themselves. They are definitely available wholesale in the western hemisphere. La Verne Nursery alone produces several thousand plants in #2 pots per year.

merce3 · 11-05-2014, 08:56 PM

what do you do with all those berries? eat them fresh or preserve somehow?

Richard · 11-05-2014, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merce3

what do you do with all those berries? eat them fresh or preserve somehow?

Save up a week's worth in the refrigerator then make a reduction using a Champion Juicer. Freeze the reduction into 1-cup packets and use later for glazes, pastries, bbq sauce, ...

11-03-2014, 07:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 839,467 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) The Goji berries you buy in the store typically come from Lycium barbarum. This plant originated in temperate parts of China; i.e., zones 9-10. In the western U.S. it is propagated commercially by LaVerne Nursery (wholesale plant grower) and sold to retail stores. It does very well here in San Diego county - in fact it can be invasive if you don't control the seedlings and suckers. On the flip side, it has bountiful harvests. I've been harvesting about 1 cup per day for the past few weeks. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

11-04-2014, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
pmurphy always pushing the limits Location: Vancouver, BC Canada Find me on the map! Zone: 8B Name: Pam Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 344 BananaBucks : 65,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 168 Times Was Thanked 512 Times in 214 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,312 Times	Re: Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) My bush is finished for the season and surprisingly it produced fruit TWICE this year - we had a mild spring for the first small crop and then a second larger one that finished about a month ago FYI, Aldergrove - here in BC - now has the province's first commercial goji fields, and they are zone 7b Aldergrove farmer believes goji berries have a bright future in B.C.

11-05-2014, 08:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
merce3 Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 538 BananaBucks : 77,238 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,092 Times Was Thanked 1,107 Times in 382 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 257 Times	Re: Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) what do you do with all those berries? eat them fresh or preserve somehow? __________________

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