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How to Care for a Goji Berry Plant

A Goji berry plant is an unusual plant that is gaining favor with home gardeners who want to grow food-producing plants. The Goji berry is high in antioxidants, fatty acids and a number of amino acids that are beneficial to the body, but it can take years to harvest them. A young Goji berry plant will not produce Goji berries until its third year.

Instructions

    • 1

      Plant your Goji Berry plant in soil that has excellent drainage. If you have clay soil or the area you have chosen to plant the Goji plant has poor drainage, it will be necessary to add a little sand or organic materials to the area. You can add potting soil, peat moss or compost to make the soil drain more efficiently.

    • 2

      Place a short fence around the plants to keep out the local wildlife. The leaves of the Goji berry plant are edible for humans as well as for animals, and rabbits, deer and other wildlife will eat the plant if it is available to them. Some people also choose to place netting over their plants to keep out birds and other animals. Garden fencing is available in any home improvement store and can be snapped together to keep small animals away from the plant.

    • 3

      Plant the Goji berry plant after the last frost of the winter or spring is over. Plant it in an area that receives full sun. It is drought-tolerant and does not need to be watered often, but watering may help it grow faster. If your area receives regular rainfall, this will be enough to sustain the Goji berry plant. If your area receives rain less than once a week, the plant will need to be watered.

    • 4

      Prune the plant to keep it at the size you desire. If the plant is left to grow wild without any pruning, it will produce more berries, but it can reach heights of 8 feet. Many gardeners prune it to remain as a bush.