Dodgy Goji

[quark1]

As I've mentioned already - I've grown from seed.

Around 7-10 days ago I potted on all 20 seedlings from v.small cells into a flower bucket with all their top inch pinched out - leaving approx 3-4 inches intact. Wow did they breathe a sigh of relief at the larger accommodations! They are already starting to sprout outwards as was the intention. After 4 months as very slow growing seedlings the stalks are very much taking on what I can only describe as a whippy feel - which is probably more like the vine/bush state they will become.

I hope to keep them as one big happy(?) family until next year when I shall see if they will be big enough to either pot on in smaller groups of say 4-5 per bucket with a view the following year to creating some kind of fruiting patch/hedged area. From what I've read - I 'may' be able to obtain a small harvest of fruit from as early as their 3rd year!

Meanwhile I shall take every step to ensure my brown thumb is kept well away from their eye-shot.

So watch this space!

Joe was given some seedlings by a well-wisher on GW last time he spoke about gojis and had confirmed that those grown from recovered seed were 'clean' according to defra - as was my assumption.

[Professor Peabody]

I also enquired with T&M about what was said on Gardeners World and got a nice email back saying that there was nothing to worry about etc and no mention of any form of redress. Today I suddenly received a blueberry bush with apologies from the subscribers team at GYO. So just wanted to say thanks.

[SMS6]

I also enquired with T&M about what was said on Gardeners World and got a nice email back saying that there was nothing to worry about etc and no mention of any form of redress. Today I suddenly received a blueberry bush with apologies from the subscribers team at GYO. So just wanted to say thanks.

ooh wonder if i might get one too then as I got mine for subscribing too!!


Subscriber Team if you're looking in, what's the criteria for getting an 'apology'

[shirlthegirl43]

I was quite content to keep my goji 'sticks' that I got as part of my subscriber package. No complaint from me except that one of the sticks was just that. I have just kept them well separate from other plants for the time being.

This morning though, I got a lovely blueberry plant with compliments of Thompson and Morgan as I was a valued customer of GYO! Thanks to anyone reading who was involved in that one.

[divvy]

I to have grown some from eating berries bought at a health food shop. I have 3 and they are in pots on the windowsill. One is a bit leggy and 5" high, the other 2 are only 1 1/2" high and bushier. I hear they grow to 8ft high and 8 foot wide. I intend to grow mine in pots in the garden from next year. Can you prune them to keep them a bit smaller as I don't want them taking over the whole garden.Also, should I pinch out the top of the leggy one now or wait a bit longer.

[quark1]

Divvy - judging from the resulting spurt of growth on mine - I'd pinch out now.

I think you'll be surprised how quickly more growth bushes. Expect some leaf drop. I think this leggy aspect might be quite expected as they can ramble as plants into bushes/hedges/vines if left. I left 3-4 pairs of true leaves on the bigger examples and was quite ruthless with the stragglers. After placing in the larger container I only lost one already very sickly specimen. They seem to be quite tough little plants!

I shall update from time to time on success/progress (or possible demise) - perhaps if you did the same we could compare notes and it would be a good learning exercise for me and perhaps others for growing this fairly new fruit crop. I think many might try the seed method as loads of bare root plants have had to be recalled or destroyed due to EU import regs.

I shall place mine outside next year - for true comparison - perhaps you could include your general location in your profile - useful when asking for growing help from other Grapes!

[SMS6]

Yippee I got one too. Thanks GYO that was very decent of you and especially the good news that the Goji Bushes provided shouldn't be a problem.

I shall let mine continue growing then and await the first fruits

[divvy]

Quark1 , I can't see how to add to my profile . I am in surrey.I pinched out the top of the leggy one yesterday.

[quark1]

divvy - look at the long green bar at the top of the forum and you will see 'user cp' - stands for user control panel.


Click on this and amongst the various options to update is 'location'. This doesn't have to be specific address - in fact it is advisable NOT to do that - just your general location - nearest large town/city or village if you're in a particular dip or high place - which might make pinpointing more relevant.

[quark1]

Just a quick update on progress....yes even my brown thumb has so far produced some growth!

The plantlets have now struck roots to the bottom of the bucket - some 6 inches deep - and have fully recovered and doubled in size since pinching out and repotting.

So far so good.

Divvy - any further prgoress to report?

[quark1]

Progress report.....6 months from sowing

I had hoped to keep the young plants in the bucket until next year but I think I will have to separate them quite soon - they are now fully 20 inches tall and many of the stouter examples now have quite a woody look to the bottom of the thickening stems. Very few casualties!

I think I shall aim to have perhaps just 2-3 in a bucket and try and create a mini bush for next year.

The plan is to eventually have enough to form a bit of a productive hedge - but may have to think that idea through before trying as the plants can be very vigorous and invasive if not properly controlled. Still there's a year of research time before a decision is necessary.

[divvy]

Not very good news i'm afraid. The 2 bushy ones have died but the leggy one I pinched the top out of is going strong.I have had it outside all summer and am now bringing it in for the winter. Do you know if you have to have more than one for polination.

[quark1]

Divvy - have no idea whether it is advisabe to have more than one plant for polination and therefore fruit to appear. That 'little voice' says 'yes'.

If you like the dried version as a snack/health product - why not do what I did and reconstitute the seeds from a couple. OK - you'll be a year behind - but you'll be amazed at how quickly they take off once given the best conditions. I've been told to expect that fruit will only come in the 3rd year - but there is an outside chance of fruit in the 2nd year. Mine were a Feb start so if you get cracking now you'll be more advanced than me in 2010. If you consider that so many peeps have lost their bushes due to DEFRA advice to destroy those of dubious origin - I'm not so very far behind.

Its a long time to wait - but half the fun of gardening is the adventure and the learning process with those lovely rewards when we get things right!

Forgot to add - I understand Gojis are cold tolerant down to very cold temps - check on internet for details as I can't remember exact frost degree. They are thought to have grown like 'weeds' in some landed gentleman's garden during the Victorian era - again details can be found on internet.

Mine are now so large that I'm preparing them for transfer into single buckets with a 3ft cane for support. I was expecting to do this early next year - but the imapatient little blighters simply won't wait. I stunted them thru neglect this year - keeping in cells FAR too long - so don't want to stop them from getting ahead a 2nd time. Also prepare for leaf drop in the winter as I understand they are deciduous.

[divvy]

Thats how I started mine in the beginning , from the dried seeds. I was told they had to stay indoors for the first year. If you look on goji berries for sale , a lot of sites come up selling plants and giving advice on how to grow them . Silly me should have looked before posting this then i could have told you what site. I will look in a min and do another post. My leggy one that grew hasn't grown very much. It is still only about 4 in high. Being out this summer has made it toughen up , before it was very weak looking.I am going to re-pot it in some new compost before bringing it in and see if that helps. Div

[divvy]

Ok , I have been back to the sites i looked at before . the first one is Organic Goji Berries - The Answers Are Here the other one which gives a lot of advice and pictures is Timpanogos Nursery.Div