How to grow Lycium
Though there are around a hundred different species of this shrubby member of the tomato family, only Lycium barbarum (better known as Goji berry) is widely cultivated. Increasing in popularity over recent years owing to its ‘superfood’ status, this hardy, deciduous shrub has an arching habit with spiny stems, and bears funnel-shaped purple flowers in summer. From late summer to autumn these give way to elongated orange fruits packed with vitamins and antioxidants, used in Chinese medicine for over a thousand years. Having your own plant offers the chance to eat these berries fresh, rather than in the usual dried form.
While not especially interesting appearance-wise, the goji berry plant has many attributes which merit its place in the garden, from a tolerance of difficult growing conditions (as we’ll explore below), to the fact it reaches flowering and fruiting maturity in just a couple of years. For a long time there was only the straight species available, though several named cultivars now offer variations in size, form, and flavour.
Other common names include the Duke of Argyll’s tea tree and Chinese box thorn.
Zantedeschia is a genus of flowering plants from the family Araceae and is native to southern Africa. With a rich history dating back to the Ancient Romans, these deciduous or semi-evergreen perennials have been used as a symbol of celebration. Zantedeschia was Named after Professor Giovanni Zantedeschia, an Italian botanist.
There are two main forms of Zantedeschia: hardy and tender. Hardy forms of the plant can be grown outdoors, enjoy moist soil and full sun or partially shaded conditions - these are known as Arum lilies. Tender forms of Zantedeschia prefer being grown in containers or pots and should be brought inside over the winter - these are known as Calla lilies.
With tuberous flora in all colours from whites, yellows and oranges to deep reds and purples, Zantedeschias are not to be overlooked in any garden, as long as they have sufficient sunlight to grow in.
Ready to learn more about growing Zantedeschia? Read on for all there is to know...
Key Information
Soil pH
Position
Hardiness
Where & when to plant Lycium
Position - Full sun is best, though some light shade will be tolerated.
Goji can thrive in exposed, windy sites and stands up well to the salt-laden air of a coastal garden.
Soil - Any reasonable, well-draining soil will do. Goji is tolerant of dry conditions once established.
Flowering Period - Summer
Hardiness - Hardy, rated H5 (-10 to -15°C).
For best results, plant in autumn or spring. An autumn planting can be done by those gardening in mild conditions (and broadly speaking, this is the southern half of the UK). For those liable to cold winters, it is best to wait until spring (generally the northern half of the UK). Planting can also be carried out in summer, though be prepared to water regularly.
Goji can be useful for a dry shrub border or bank and is particularly useful as a windbreak or hedge in a coastal garden. If you are short on space, it can be kept smaller and more manageable with training into a loose fan-shape against a wall or fence. Alternatively, opt for one of the more compact cultivars now available, such as ‘Lubera Instant Success’.
Goji can also be grown in a container, though larger forms may require some restrictive pruning (see below).
How to plant Lycium
· For planting in the garden, dig the soil area removing any large stones and weeds and breaking up any lumps. Mix in plenty of organic matter such as manure or garden compost. Rake level and firm with your heels. Rake level again.
· Water plants well and allow to drain before planting.
· Dig a hole twice the width of the root-ball.
· Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball sits level with the surface of the soil. Too low and the plant may rot, too high and the roots can dry out.
· Backfill with soil and firm in gently with your foot.
· Soak well with water.
· Mulch around the base with well-rotted organic matter.
· For planting in a container, first choose a large pot (at least 20 litres) with plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. It can be a good idea to fill and plant this in situ to save yourself the trouble of moving once full.
· Lycium prefers a mix of three parts soil-based compost, one part grit. If not already present in the compost (check the description on the bag) add some slow-release fertiliser granules.
· Start by partially filling the pot with compost; enough so that when placed on it the upper surface of the root ball is about 3cm lower than the top of the pot.
· Infill all the space surrounding the root ball with compost, firming down with your fingers then adding a little more so the plant is held tight.
· Pick up the container and lightly tap on the potting bench or ground a few times to help further settle the compost around the plant.
· Soak well with water.
· A mulch with horticultural grit will look attractive and help to prevent a ‘cap’ or crust forming on the top of the compost (something container plants can suffer due to the artificial nature of their watering).
What to plant with Lycium
Coastal gardeners dealing with heavy, salt-laden winds can grow goji alongside trees and shrubs such as tamarix, Euonymus japonicus, eleagnus, and elder. For colour and interest, our favourites seaside perennials include Malva sylvestris, Armeria maritima, eryngium, kniphofia, phlomis, limonium, nepeta, agapanthus, and libertia.
Those growing goji for eating purposes may wish to plant it alongside other edible berries and fruits, such as raspberries, blueberries (in a pot of ericaceous compost unless the soil is acidic), figs, gooseberries, blackberries, and currants. Invest in a few pears and apples if you’re in it for the long term, and don’t forget that titan of the crumble world, rhubarb. (Technically a vegetable, but who’s checking...?).
How to care for Lycium
Pruning and Deadheading
For the first three years in the ground, goji needs little more than a light tidy each spring, removing any dead, diseased, or damaged growth. Try to time this just as the leaf buds are beginning to open, simply as this makes it easier to identify dead stems. Leaving goji largely untouched for this initial period allows it to become well-established.
Once matured, you can cut out around a quarter of the oldest stems each year to keep your goji healthy and productive. Take these off right down to the base, again – doing so in spring.
If you are training your goji against a wall or fence, trim back to a desired framework in spring, shortening any overly long stems in the process. Aim to replace a few old, tiring branches with newer, vigorous growth each year.
Goji grown in a container may need restrictive pruning in summer to prevent it becoming too large for the situation. Cut new growth back by up to a half, though be aware that this will mean sacrificing many of that year’s berries.
Watering
Give a good soak on initial planting, and then regularly throughout the first growing season in the ground. Once established, goji is drought tolerant and should require watering only in the most prolonged periods of hot, dry weather. That said, if you are training yours against a wall or fence it may sit in a ‘rain shadow’ of bone-dry soil and need extra watering throughout the drier months.
Container grown goji has less access to moisture so needs regularly watering throughout every growing season. Allowing the top couple of centimetres of compost to dry out between watering is a useful rule of thumb to help avoid overwatering. Use your finger inserted into the compost to check this, being aware that in the height of summer watering can be needed every day. From mid-autumn, the British climate tends to take over watering needs, though do remember to step in in the event of an unseasonably dry spell.
Feeding
In healthy, fertile soil, a mulch of well-rotted organic matter (i.e., a layer of leaf mould, manure, or garden compost applied to the soil around the plant) should provide sufficient nutrients for your goji. This has the added benefit of suppressing weeds and locking in moisture. Mulch when planting, and then again each spring.
If you feel your goji could do with a boost (perhaps you garden on poor soil), a dose of balanced fertiliser such as blood, fish, and bone can work wonders. Do this in spring, ideally in conjunction with mulching. First apply the feed, lightly fork into the surface of the soil, water, then mulch. Resist the temptation to feed more than once a year as this may cause an excess of nutrients and do more harm than good.
Container-grown plants rely solely on the gardener for nutrition and therefore need a little more attention when it comes to feeding. Get off to a flying start by making sure you use a good quality compost with slow-release granules mixed in, then throughout the growing season (March to October) apply a liquid feed such as tomato food once a fortnight. Remember also to repot your goji every few years into a larger pot with fresh compost. When this is no longer feasible, we advise a top dress each spring. Simply scrape away the top few centimetres of compost and replace with fresh (not forgetting to mix in some slow-release granules).
Cold Protection
Goji is hardy enough to withstand an average UK winter without the need for additional protection. In areas where winter conditions can be very harsh it is best to avoid planting in an open, exposed spot.
Pests and Diseases
Goji is largely problem-free, though aphids can occasionally be an issue. As always, our advice is that these are part of a balanced garden ecosystem and the best approach is to leave them to their natural predators (e.g. birds, ladybirds, and wasps). When numbers are so large, however, that their feeding starts to inhibit and disfigure growth, you may feel it necessary to act. Regularly blasting off with a hose or wiping away with a cloth or piece of kitchen paper can help to keep numbers down without harming other insects.
How to propagate Lycium
By far the simplest way to propagate goji a is to remove and pot up suckers produced by the roots in autumn or spring.
1. Choose a day when the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
2. Using a spade, dig up strong, healthy suckers, severing from the parent plant with clean, sharp secateurs.
3. Pot into a container filled with a well-draining compost mix.
4. Water thoroughly.
5. Grow on in a cool yet frost-free environment such as a cold frame, unheated greenhouse, or against a south-facing wall, keeping well-watered yet not soggy.
6. When large enough to be planted out, do so following our ‘How to plant lycium’ guide above.
* Many plants carry Plant Breeders Rights and cannot be propagated for commercial purposes.
Common Lycium Questions
Are goji berries fast growing?
Yes. Expect flowering and fruiting within two or three years, and the shrub to reach full size in five to ten years.
Where is the best place to plant goji?
Go for a sunny, well-draining spot and your goji should romp away with little fuss.
What’s the best way to harvest goji berries?
Goji berries have delicate skin and are easily damaged in the picking process. We recommend shaking the fruit onto a sheet to minimise handling. Harvest from late summer until the first frosts.
