Since the cultivation of goji berries has been promoted in Germany, high-yielding cultivars have also become commercially available in this country in a greater variety and quantity. The strong-growing bushes with bright orange-red berries can also be easily propagated yourself.
How to propagate a goji berry?
The Goji berry can be propagated by cuttings, seedlings or underground runners. Propagation from cuttings is the most common because it offers faster growth and cutting material is produced annually anyway. Seedlings, on the other hand, take longer to bear fruit.
Limit uncontrolled propagation with a rhizome barrier
Basically there are three main ways of propagating the goji berry:
- underground foothills
- Cuttings
- Seedlings
The propagation of the goji berry, however, is not always something that gardeners actively strive for. In many cases, garden owners shy away from planting in the garden bed and prefer growing in pots, as this form of culture automatically directs the formation of underground root runners in a controlled manner. If goji berries are still to be planted in the garden, then, as with bamboo, it is advisable to use a rhizome barrier around the plants. Otherwise, the runners can sometimes spread widely across the garden.
Propagate goji berries with cuttings
The most common propagation method for goji berries is cutting from cuttings. After all, this method ensures rapid growth of the young plants obtained in this way, and cutting material is produced in sufficient quantities every year for the strong-growing bushes. Either green cuttings can be cut in early summer or mature cuttings in autumn. Propagating cuttings in the fall usually produces better results. To do this, pieces about 10 to 20 cm long are cut off from the bushes and placed in a permeable growing substrate. If cuttings are grown in a pot on a warm window sill, a foil cover can be placed over them to ensure a constantly high level of humidity.
Growing seedlings from goji berry seeds
As a rule, the seeds from dried goji berries are still capable of germinating if you carefully remove them from the berries. For germination, the goji berry seeds are ideally placed on a moistened cellulose cloth. As light germinators, they only germinate uncovered, but can be separated into fine sowing soil shortly after germination. Since the plants are very sensitive at first, they require relatively constant care and good light and moisture conditions.
Tip
In comparison to goji berries grown from cuttings, bushes grown from seeds require on average up to two years longer before a significant number of berries can be harvested for the first time. Therefore, propagation from cuttings is preferred over sowing in most cases.
