Lycium barbarum - seeds

The Goji is a bush of Asian origin cultivated for its slightly sweet red berries, with exceptional virtues. They can be consumed fresh or dried. They are said to strengthen the immune system and help fight ageing and fatigue, among other things. Sow from March to June for a first harvest three years later.

The Goji or Gogi is the fruit of a bush called Lyciet or Lycium (Lycium barbarum in Latin). It is native to China and Tibet and belongs to the Solanaceae family. It has a fairly indeterminate habit and can reach, in open ground, a height of 3 metres high and 5 metres wide. Its branches are thorny, long, and arched. It has deciduous foliage composed of green, ovate leaves, measuring 2 to 6 cm. Its flowers in May - June with small, more or less intense mauve flowers with five petals. It produces valuable ovoid red-orange berries at the end of summer, measuring one to two centimetres long.

Hardy, at least down to -20°C, the Lyciet grows very well in our climates. It likes sunny, poor, light, and well-drained soil. It can also be grown in a pot, in which case it will remain smaller, around 1.5 metres high.

Goji berries can be consumed fresh or dried. Used for millennia in Asia, they are known for their content of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and their antioxidant properties. They are said to boost the immune system and fight against fatigue and aging.

In the garden, you can plant your Lyciet alongside your other red fruits or in a fruit hedge. Growing Goji from seeds is a long-term project as the first harvest only occurs three years after sowing, but it is easy and very rewarding.

Harvest: it takes place in late summer and early autumn, usually from August to October. Be careful, unripe Goji berries are toxic and they can only be eaten when fully ripe.

Storage: Goji berries can be stored after being dried, in a shady, dry, and well-ventilated place.

The gardener's tip: To reduce watering, we recommend that you mulch the soil with thin successive layers of grass clippings, if possible mixed with dead leaves, once the plants are well developed. This protection, which keeps the soil moist, also reduces weeding.