How to Grow Wolfberries
Wolfberries are also known as goji berries or chinese wolfberries. Considered a medicinal herb, you will find them listed in most plant and gardening supply catalogs in the herb section. Wolfberries are prized for their antioxidant and mineral content. They can be eaten dried or fresh. Wolfberries are not fussy plants and can be grown in heavy clay and sandy soils, in part shade to full sun. Wolfberries are vining shrubs that are often planted on banks to control erosion. Hardy in zones 5 to 9, wolfberries attract wildlife and are a good source of nectar for bees.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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Growing Wolfberry Plants
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1
Trim off any broken or dead branches.
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2
Choose a well-drained spot with at least 6 hours of sun a day. Dig a hole just larger than the roots. Most wolfberries are shipped in containers; plant the roots at the same depth as they are in the container. Leave enough space for the adult plant to reach 8 feet tall and wide.
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3
Place the wolfberry plant in the hole and back fill the soil, tamping it gently around the plant
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4
Mulch around your plant with shredded bark to keep weeds at bay and retain moisture. Apply the mulch no more than 2 inches deep.
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5
Feed the wolfberry plant once a year in late spring with compost (a handful sprinkled around the base works) or a general-purpose fertilizer.
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6
Pick when the berry turns bright red. Wolfberries ripen in late summer and early fall.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Wolfberries are drought-resistant and generally don't need supplemental watering; however, if your area has a prolonged drought (several months no water), 1 inch of water every two weeks will keep your plant producing berries.
Some states will not allow wolfberries to be shipped in from out-of-state suppliers.
