Growing Goji Berries from Seed – A Complete Guide for Beginners

Goji berries have become incredibly popular in recent years due to their reputation as a superfood. These small red berries are packed with nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, and antioxidants. While you can buy goji berries dried or as a juice, many people are interested in growing their own fresh goji berries at home.

The great news is that goji berries are relatively easy to grow yourself from seed! It just takes some patience as they can take a few years to start fruiting. But with the right care, you can have a prolific goji berry shrub producing buckets of berries for your family.

In this complete growing guide for beginners, I’ll walk you through every step of the process. Here’s what we’ll cover

• Where to Get Goji Berry Seeds
• How to Plant Goji Berry Seeds
• Caring for Goji Berry Seedlings
• Transplanting Goji Berry Plants
• Growing Goji Berry Bushes
• Encouraging Fruit Production
• Harvesting Goji Berries

Let’s get started growing these superfood berries in your own backyard!

Where to Get Goji Berry Seeds

The first step is acquiring goji berry seeds. Here are your options:

• Buy seeds—You can find goji berry seeds in many garden stores and online seed shops. Make sure you buy new seeds that are packaged for this growing season.

• Extract seeds from dried goji berries – You can also carefully remove seeds from dried goji berries bought from the store. Soak berries overnight, then massage to extract seeds. Viability may be lower than fresh seeds.

• Gather your own plant seeds. When your goji berries start to ripen, save some of the seeds to plant more goji berries.

Look for plump, mature seeds and avoid any that are shriveled up. For the highest germination rates, fresh seeds are best.

How to Plant Goji Berry Seeds

Goji berry seeds have a tough outer shell, so they don’t require any pre-treatment before planting. Follow these simple steps:

• Fill starter pots or trays with a sterile, light seed starting mix. Moisten before planting.

• Plant two to three goji berry seeds in each pot, making sure they are about 1/4 inch deep. The seeds are small so don’t plant too deep.

• Keep the seed starting mix consistently moist but not soggy.

• Provide temperatures of 70-80°F for fastest germination.

• Place in a bright, warm spot like a sunny window or under grow lights.

• Goji seeds can take 1-2 months to fully germinate. Be patient!

Caring for Goji Berry Seedlings

You’ll have little goji berry seedlings once your seeds sprout. Here are some ways to take care of them:

• Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Don’t keep too wet.

• Thin seedlings down to the 1 strongest plant per pot once 2-3 true leaves appear.

• Transition to full sunlight exposure gradually over a week.

• Keep seedlings warm, around 70°F. Consider using a heating mat.

• Feed monthly with a diluted liquid fertilizer once established.

• Watch for fungus gnats, aphids, and other common seedling pests.

Transplanting Goji Berry Plants

After 2-3 months, goji berry seedlings will be ready for transplanting into larger containers. Follow these guidelines:

• Choose a potting mix designed for berries or fruits.

• Carefully remove the seedling from its starter pot and loosen the roots.

• Plant at the same depth it was originally growing at.

• Water well after transplanting to help roots establish.

• Grow on in pots for the remainder of the first year.

Growing Goji Berry Bushes

Once your goji berry plants are about a year old, you can move them into the garden. Here are some growing tips:

• Plant in full sun, spacing bushes 4-6 feet apart.

• Amend soil with compost or manure before planting. Gojis like rich soil.

• Install a trellis for the vines to climb up. Or grow as a bush.

• Water 1 inch per week until well established. Mulch to retain moisture.

• Prune back each spring to control size and encourage new growth.

• Protect young plants from deer, rabbits, and other pests.

Encouraging Fruit Production

It typically takes 3 years from seed before goji berry plants will bear fruit. Here are some tips for maximizing fruit yields:

• Apply balanced fertilizer monthly through the growing season.

• Water regularly, especially during flowering and fruiting.

• Prune back old stems after harvesting to stimulate new growth.

• You may need multiple plants for good pollination and fruit set.

• Grow in pots to control size and make covering/moving plants for protection easier.

• Remove any diseased or insect-damaged fruits promptly.

Harvesting Goji Berries

Once your goji bushes start producing their small red berries, you’ll want to harvest them at the right time. Here are some harvesting tips:

• Pick berries when they turn bright red. Give a gentle tug to remove.

• Harvest every 2-3 days during peak season. The more you pick, the more will grow.

• Use the berries fresh, or dry and store them to use year-round.

• Expect lower yields the first couple fruiting seasons as plants mature.

• Take precautions when harvesting to avoid spreading disease between plants.

• Pick in the morning when berries are plump with moisture.

With the proper care, your homegrown goji berries will provide a bountiful harvest of sweet, nutrient-dense berries perfect for snacking, adding to smoothies, baking, and more! It’s so satisfying to grow your own superfoods at home.

Here are some final quick tips for success growing goji berries from seed:

• Start with high quality, fresh seeds for best germination rates.

• Provide consistent moisture, heat, and light for seedlings.

• Transplant young seedlings to larger pots once 2-3 true leaves appear.

• Grow in full sun once established.

• It can take up to 3 years for fruit production, so be patient!

• Pick berries frequently once they begin ripening.