Scarlet Goji Berries with a smoothie on a white background.
Goji Berry Seeds, Scarlet (wolfberry)
Scarlet Goji Berry with Tea on a ceramic plate.
Scarlet Goji Berry growing and Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. farm in Mansfield, Missouri.
Close-up of a pile of Scarlet Goji Berry.
Scarlet Goji Berries with a smoothie on a dark blue background.
Scarlet Goji Berries with a smoothie on a white background.
Goji Berry Seeds, Scarlet (wolfberry)
Scarlet Goji Berry with Tea on a ceramic plate.
Scarlet Goji Berry growing and Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. farm in Mansfield, Missouri.
Close-up of a pile of Scarlet Goji Berry.
Scarlet Goji Berries with a smoothie on a dark blue background.

Goji Berry Seeds,
Scarlet (wolfberry)

4.410 ReviewsSKU: #GR109Min. seed count: 40
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Description

(Scarlet Wolfberry)  Chinese native perennial shrub with slender stems growing up to 6.5-13 feet high if not pruned. From June to September, the shrub is decorated with pale violet, fragrant flowers. The fruit will then appear until the first frost and is high in compounds with antioxidant properties, such as carotenoids and phenolics. Goji berries have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries to promote liver, kidney, and eye health, and perhaps most famously, to support longevity. Naturally drought tolerant, highly disease and insect resistant, and tolerant of temps down to -18 F. The tender fruit appears in two years, and a mature plant can produce almost 7 lbs of berries under good conditions by the third year. Add the fruit to tonic, soups, rice, or herbal tea. The tender shoots and leaves are used as a leaf vegetable and are cooked 15 minutes in soup.

Growing Tips: Soak seeds in warm (70-85 F) water for 24 hours before planting. Add sand to potting mix. Goji prefers an alkaline soil and perfers to stay fairly dry, but tolerates most soils.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Lycium barbarum
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Requirement
6–12 hr.
Days to Germinate
14–21
Days to Maturity
730
Planting Depth
¼ in.
Plant Spacing
36 in.
Ideal Temperature
70–85°F
Frost Hardy
Yes

When to Grow

Scarlet Wolfberry is started indoors in trays rather than sown in place: soak the seed overnight in warm water at 70-85 F, then sow 1/4 inch deep, 2-3 seeds per pot, in a very fine potting mix that includes sand. Keep the mix moist until the seeds sprout, in about 14-21 days, and separate the seedlings once the first true leaves have appeared. Transplant outdoors in full sun after all chance of frost has passed, spacing the shrubs about 36 inches apart. This perennial tolerates temperatures down to -18 F, flowers from June to September, and bears its first tender fruit in about two years.

How to Sow and Plant

  • Start seeds indoors in trays, then transplant out.
  • To aid germination, soak seeds overnight in warm water (70 to 85 F).
  • Plant in a very fine potting mix that includes sand, and keep soil moist until seeds sprout.
  • Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, about 2-3 seeds per pot and separate when first true leaves have appeared.
  • Transplant out after all chance of frost has passed.

How to Grow

  • Provide full sun. First-year plants should be kept well watered, but once established, goji berry shrubs can be quite drought tolerant.
  • Goji prefers an alkaline soil that is fairly dry, but will tolerate most soils.
  • The plants will grow into a shrub and should be spaced about 4-6 feet apart.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • Powdery mildew can be an issue if the plants have poor air circulation. This can be prevented by adequately spacing the plants to ensure good air flow. Do not crowd plants!
  • Consider covering plants in bird netting if birds or squirrels are eating your berries.

How to Save Seeds

  • Self pollinating.
  • Save seeds by allowing berries to dry on plants before picking them.
  • You can dry the berries whole for seed saving, or crush the berries and spread the seeds out to dry.
  • Spread berries or seeds on a paper towel and allow to further dry for a few days in a dry location out of direct sunlight.
  • Store seeds in a cool, dark, dry place.

FAQ

Do Scarlet Wolfberry seeds need soaking?

Yes. Soaking them overnight in warm water at 70 to 85 F before sowing aids germination. Adding sand to a very fine potting mix and keeping it moist until sprouting also helps.

How long before I get Scarlet Wolfberry berries?

The tender fruit appears in two years, and under good conditions a mature plant can produce almost 7 pounds of berries by the third year. Fruit follows the pale violet, fragrant flowers and keeps coming until the first frost. Unpruned shrubs can reach 6.5 to 13 feet.

How much space do the plants need?

Space them about 36 inches apart and do not crowd them. Powdery mildew can be an issue if the plants have poor air circulation, and this can be prevented by adequately spacing the plants to ensure good air flow. If birds or squirrels are eating your berries, consider covering the plants with bird netting.
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