Dodgy Goji

[snuffer]

Not sure if this is already well known among the fruit growers on the vine. I have just been looking at the Gardeners World website, on there is a link to a DEFRA website. They are giving warnings about Goji berry plants imported from some parts of the world that are carrying diseases that can affect potatoes and tomatoes. They also say that the risk is greater to us gardeners because we are more likely to be offered the dodgy stuff. Comercial growers are well aware of the risk and know where best to source their plants from.

I don't want to be alarmist but thought I aught to share this information. On the up side the risk is said to be very low.

[BarleySugar]

Just watched Joe dig his out from the allotment on GW, he said he's got them from a reputable supplier, but not which one. I suppose he couldn't on the TV, but I would think anyone who has bought some should try to find out where they came from. Asia and China were mentioned as the problem areas I think.

[brittsyank]

I've just received my first issue of my subscription to GYO and the free gift was 3 goji berry plants which were from Thompson and Morgan.
Will GYO look in the supply of these plants.
In the meantime I will bring my plants back from the allotment as I had planted them in pots.
Any feedback is most welcome!

[jeannine]

The lovely people at T&M are saying that if anyone got plants from them they are happy to supply a blueberry bush instead and also give them a £10 gift voucher.

As far as I understand it, there were some Dutch suppliers who didn't organise the right paperwork and so a number of completely reputable UK companies are going to be seriously out of pocket over this, through no fault of their own.

Personally, if it's a choice between growing goji berries at £5 a bag or potatoes at £1 a bag, I know what I'd prefer to do, so I'm not going to get rid of my goji plants just in case there's a tiny risk of infection, but at the same time I think it's a choice everyone needs to make individually and I'd encourage anyone to look in to it and make an informed decision.
I looked at the Defra website and they think the risks are tiny and pose more of a threat to commercial growers, so I think it's generous of companies like T&M to offer compensation.
If anyone wants to buy established plants that are definitely free of any concerns, I happen to know that good old Victoriana Nursery Gardens grow all their goji plants from seed, so you can trust them implicitly.

[gojiberry]

I also intend to continue with my goji berry. I felt that last nights programme was badly put together. Drastic action taken on the part of Joe Swift with very little information to back up his decision. Surely if there was a serious risk to the countries potato and tomato plants then DEFRA would have taken serious action. Just my personal oppinion.

Ian

[Furkin]

TV wouldn't be TV without its knee jerking reactional programs.
I find that 90% of these programs only look towards one side of an argument,,,, & have made their mind up before they even start making the program.
Of course - none of us want to import disease, but it shouldn't put us off from importing 'at all costs'.



As far as T&M are concerned - they have told dozens of us that they don't have any Goji plants left for this year (I s'pose with Free items - you have to get 'em when they send 'em !)


cheers

[quark1]

I have grown from 'recovered' seed this year from gojis presented for eating.

I feel confident that if they're OK to eat then any disease would probably not be present in my diddy plants - currently around 3 inches in height! They seem to be quite slow starting - started around Feb/Mar time.

[shirlthegirl43]

The lovely people at T&M are saying that if anyone got plants from them they are happy to supply a blueberry bush instead and also give them a £10 gift voucher.

That is a very generous gesture by T&M.

One of my gift goji sticks is totally dead and I was wondering whether to grumble or not as it was free after all. The others looked similarly unpromising but are now showing lots of fresh growth.

I will stick with what I have though as I already have a nice blueberry bush which even has fruit on it (well excited!) also, I am having enough trouble deciding how to spend the ten pound voucher I already have!

[Two_Sheds]

It is illegal to import Goji berry plants from outside the EU, ie from China and the Far East. more info here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/lycium.pdf

[Professor Peabody]

Since some nice soul at my allotments has nicked one of my blueberry bushes I shall contact T&M and claim my free one and destroy my goji sticks.

[SMS6]

I got my three free one's for subscribing, two are looking fairly good but one is still just a stick. I have mine in pots so I think I'll just keep them well away from anything else. I may contact T&M though see what they advise.

[Brenda Christie]

Goji Berries

Hi, I ordered 3 goji berries from Thompson & Morgan and they are now growing in my ground. I spoke to T&M today and they said that my plants would be fine, they came from Holland and there was nothing to worry about and to leave them in. I then spoke to DEFRA who told me that illegal imports into Holland took place between May & Oct 2007 and April 2008 and that these plants were then exported to plant suppliers. They also said T&M had been advised about this before the Gardener's World programme. I ordered my plants from T&M in April this year. DEFRA told me they could very well be illegal and suggested I destroy them by double bagging and putting them in household waste. I have pondered long and hard about this but as the plants are at the end of my rows of potatoes and tomatoes I'll be binning them. I was interested to read T&M had offered some users a refund and blueberry bushes - they didn't offer me anything! Maybe I'll call them again, although mainly I don't want to infect my ground or lose my healthy crops of spuds and toms.

[mrs dog]

Well i am not sure if mine are at risk as I got mine last year and with my senior blond moments I cant remember where I bought them from! I am going to carry on with them as I lost all my pots last year because of the floods and this year they were stolen so who's right and who's wrong!!!

[SMS6]

No voucher here either

I contacted T&M by email just to see if they were going to offer anything by way of Compensation - this was their response

"DEFRA has confirmed that T&M has at all times sought to comply with the rules and has acted in good faith throughout.

The problem is that the Goji (Lycium barbarum) is a solanaceous plant, and it has turned out that solanaceous plants should not be imported into the EC from most countries. According to DEFRA it is believed that they might have the potential to be infected. If infected, this could theoretically affect other solanaceous plants and this applies across the EC.

T&M imported Goji Berry plants with all the correct hygiene and import paperwork. Admission to the EC was approved by the authorities in Holland (our normal point of entry) and the relevant certificate granted. However not even the Dutch authorities were aware that the Goji plants were solanceous, but had they been aware of this fact the plants would not have been admitted for onward sale.

DEFRA tests have shown that T&M products were clear, and are aware that the origin of the matter lies with the Dutch Plant Health Authorities.

In conclusion the statement from DEFRA at first sight may seem alarming, however, on more thorough reading, we note that (1) tests conducted by DEFRA have shown all products to be clear, and (2) even if this was not the case, DEFRA assesses the theoretical risk of transfer to be extremely unlikely and have set out detailed reasons why.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience we have inadvertently caused you, and we hope your faith in Thompson and Morgan has not suffered unduly due to this regrettable incident."


So no freebies for me

[vegnut]

I ordered mine last year and received it early this year (not sure when now ?). It's growing well in a pot (for now) right next to my toms, in my garden. If nothing happens this year, then next year they will be going to the allotment, I'm quite confident that they will be fine, and i won't be digging mine up. Good luck to the rest of you.