Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Goji Berries
Goji berries may sound like they belong in a trendy smoothie bar, but these vibrant red gems are surprisingly easy to grow right at home. Whether you’re looking to up your antioxidant game or just love a fruit that sounds slightly magical, goji berries deliver flavor, health perks, and backyard bragging rights. Learn how to plant, grow, and care for goji berries.
About Goji Berries
Although they sound exotic and are often found in health food stores, goji berries (Lycium barbarum L.) are hardy in Zones 3 to 9, depending on the cultivar.
They can be eaten fresh, juiced, or dried. Considered a “superfruit,” the berries are high in protein and antioxidants, including carotene and vitamins A and C.
The goji berry plants most grown for fruit are Lycium barbarum. The berries grow on long vines that can be staked or pruned into sprawling shrubs about 4 to 6 feet tall. They also grow well in pots up to 18+ inches in diameter.
In late spring, brilliant royal purple blossoms form along the long, flexible canes, followed by small orange to red ½- to 1-inch-long fruit about 4 to 6 weeks later.
Goji berries are expensive to buy, so growing your own is a great option if you enjoy these tasty superfruits. They are self-fertile, meaning that you’ll get fruit with only one plant. However, the harvest will be heavier with two varieties acting as pollinator buddies.
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Planting
Plant in neutral to slightly alkaline soil in a sunny spot. These fruiting shrubs need at least partial sun but will do better with 6 to 8 hours per day of bright sunshine. Choose a site with good drainage. While goji berries will tolerate many soil types, they won’t do well in wet clay soils.
Some varieties are more upright, and others sprawling, but they can be staked or trellised to keep them neat and tidy.
When To Plant Goji Berries
Like many perennial shrubs, goji berries can be planted in spring or fall. Containerized stock can be planted anytime after your last frost, up to about 6 weeks before your ground freezes.
Bare-root stock is planted in spring before the plants break dormancy; the plants are typically only available from vendors for spring shipping and can be planted as soon as possible after you receive them.
If your site isn’t ready for planting, store the plants in a cool, dark location and check the roots. Keep them moist but not soaking wet.
How To Plant Goji Berries
Goji berries are available as containerized stock or bare-root. Planting methods are similar. For bare-root plants, soak the roots in a bucket of water for 12 hours before planting to ensure they are hydrated.
For potted nursery stock, water thoroughly an hour beforehand. The plants will release from their pots more easily, and the moisture minimizes transplant shock.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth. The hole should look like a shallow bowl with sloping sides.
- Use your shovel or a garden fork to break up the soil at the edge and bottom of the hole. Compact soil can act like an impermeable wall, preventing root growth and holding excess water.
- Cut any circling or girdling roots. Use a trowel or soil knife to loosen up root-bound plants by scoring the edges of the rootball.
- Test fit the shrub in the hole and adjust the depth as necessary. If planting bare-root shrubs, you’ll likely be able to see the old soil line on the trunk.
- For bare-root plants, spread the roots out and prevent them from circling around the base of the hole. Don’t leave them clumped.
- Backfill the hole with the soil you removed. Water when the hole is half-filled, then continue adding soil. Lightly firm the soil around the roots as you go to avoid air pockets.
- Make a raised ridge around the plant to keep water from running away when you irrigate. Water the plant well once finished.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch to keep the soil moist. Don’t allow the mulch to contact the trunk(s). Keep it an inch away.
Types
- ‘Sweet Lifeberry’
A vigorous grower, reaching 10 to 12 feet tall if left unpruned. Produces juicy, sweet berries with a slight tang when fully ripe. When dried, the flavor becomes delightfully sweet—often compared to cranberries or raisins with subtle herbal notes. - ‘Crimson Star’
Begins bearing fruit 1 to 2 years after planting on medium-sized plants, typically 6 to 8 feet tall. Produces large, bright red berries with a tangy sweetness. Fruits are pleasantly sweet when fully ripe, especially when grown in sunny locations with moist soil. They retain their sweetness when dried and are popular in smoothies and snacks. - ‘Phoenix Tears’
Yields deep-orange, jellybean-shaped fruits on compact stems that train easily to trellises. Exceptionally cold-hardy. The firm berries have a mildly sweet flavor with a touch of acidity and ripen gradually over several weeks for the best taste. Excellent dried, and commonly used in smoothies, teas, and dried snacks. Known for its high nutritional density and carotene content—some growers even prefer its flavor over Lifeberry.
Harvesting
- Goji berries are indeterminate, meaning they will ripen at varying times, not all at once.
- Hand-pick goji berries when fully orange-red, about a month after blooming. Pull to the side instead of straight away to help them disconnect from the stems. You may have to tug.
- Do not pick too early! Berries can be bitter or bland if immature; ripening on the vine improves sweetness.
- Berries can be eaten dried (most common), fresh, or frozen for preservation.
Breakfast berry smoothie bowl topped with goji berries. Credit: K. Svetlana
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Hi Sharon,
Some goji berry varieties are sweeter than others, but it really comes down to harvesting at the correct time. While goji berries turn red very quickly, they will continue to have a bitter taste until fully ripe. In general, goji berries should be left to ripen for several weeks before harvesting to attain that slightly sweeter flavor. Once they turn red, taste one every so often to see how the flavor is changing as they ripen on the plant.
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