How to Grow a Ningxia Wolfberry Plant
Ningxia wolfberry, also known as Lycium barbarum or goji berry, is a deciduous woody perennial plant native to the Ningxia Hui region of China. Wolfberry is prized for its sweet, red berries which can be used to make juices or wines, or used in recipes. Wolfberries are also purported to have health benefits and have long been used in Chinese medicine. Boasting white and purple trumpet-shaped blossoms, the Ningxia wolfberry plant makes an attractive addition to gardens and home landscapes. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Peat moss
- Aged manure
- Tiller
- Ningxia wolfberry seeds
- Garden hose
- Water soluble fertilizer
- Pruning shears
Instructions
-
-
1
Pick a suitable planting location for your Ningxia wolfberry plant in your garden or home landscape. Look for a sunny location that receives six or more hours of direct sunlight per day and has fertile, well-draining soil.
-
2
Cover the surface of the soil at the planting location with 2 inches of equal parts peat moss and aged manure. Work the organic materials into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil until well distributed.
-
-
3
Soak your wolfberry seeds in warm water for at least 24 hours before planting. Soaking the seeds before planting helps to promote successful germination.
-
4
Scatter your wolfberry seeds over the surface of the soil. Rake the planting area to cover the seeds with approximately a 1/2 inch of amended soil.
-
5
Water the wolfberry seeds after sowing them to moisten the soil and encourage seed germination. Continue to water your Ningxia wolfberry plant as often as necessary to keep the soil cool and moist.
-
6
Fertilize your wolfberry plant twice each growing season to promote healthy, vigorous growth. Apply the first fertilizer application in the early spring, before you observe new plant growth. Apply a second fertilizer application when the plant begins to bloom. Follow the application instructions on the fertilizer product to avoid burning the plant's roots.
-
7
Prune your wolfberry plant with sharpened and sterilized pruning shears, if desired, to maintain its size and shape. Wolfberry plants that are allowed to grow wild tend to produce more berries than their pruned counterparts.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Harvest the berries from your wolfberry plant when they ripen. Take care when harvesting as the berries are fragile and bruise easily.
Ningxia wolfberry is considered invasive in some areas. Contact your local agricultural extension office for more information.
It may take up to three years for your plant to bear fruit.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Andrea Bricco/Digital Vision/Getty Images
