How to grow goji berries at home?

There are few people who have never heard of goji berries. Over the past few years, websites on the Internet have been flooded with attractive advertisements for this "miracle from the East". Goji is often suggested as a "magic" natural remedy for weight loss, but it is also known that this plant contains many invaluable trace elements that are beneficial to the human body.

But is it really necessary in order to consume goji berries to constantly buy them for decent money? After all, conditions for growing this wonderful plant can be created in Russia. Anyone who wants to try goji as a means for losing weight, is looking for a source of trace elements and vitamins, or simply wants to diversify a summer cottage with some unusual plant, of course, it will be interesting to know what a goji berry is, planting, growing and caring for which is quite possible and on Russian soil.

Eastern miracle

The homeland of the miracle berries and the area where they first learned about its usefulness is Tibet. In China, the history of eating goji goes back tens of thousands of years. Since the last century, goji have gained incredible popularity in many countries around the world. For its healing properties, goji berry is rightfully recognized as one of the most useful natural herbal remedies. A shrub with oblong bright red fruits has many names: common wolfberry, Tibetan (or Chinese) barberry, wolfberry, wolfberry, Chinese wolfberry ...

Dereza belongs to the nightshade family. Out of more than 40 species of plants bearing the scientific name "Dereza", as a rule, it is common Dereza that is grown outside China. Due to its unpretentiousness and relative ease of care, this plant is very popular and is perfectly cultivated in the countries of Asia, Africa, the Caucasus, Ukraine, Primorye, as well as in central Russia.

The benefits of goji berries for humans

The goji berry, which has already become industrialized in the Chinese provinces, is incredibly prized in traditional medicine in China and Tibet.

The properties of these "magic" berries can hardly be overestimated. Goji is an invaluable source of more than twenty minerals, a set of natural vegetable fats and carbohydrates, 18 rare amino acids, linoleic acid, proteins, fatty acids, fiber, essential vitamins C, E and group B.

Of course, the goji berry, which is planted and cared for in Russia, is noticeably inferior in the amount of minerals and vitamins to similar fruits grown in the mountains of Tibet or in China. But even "goji from the dacha" are able to provide the human body with a daily intake of all of the above substances.

In addition to using these berries for the most advertised goal of weight loss, the use of goji solves many medical and physiological problems: it improves metabolism and skin condition, lowers blood sugar levels, regulates melatonin levels, helps with depression and sleep disorders, improves immunity and promotes rejuvenation. organism. It is believed that it is the use of goji that is the secret of the success of athletes from the Middle Kingdom, the reason for their incredible endurance.

Climatic conditions and soil for growing goji

Outwardly, the common wolfberry is a tall shrub with small leaves and thin flexible, rather thorny branches. The flowering bush is covered with delicate purple flowers, and the fruit of the wolfberry, known as goji berry, is oblong, medium-sized, bright red in color. The ability of wolfberry to grow and bear fruit in the harsh mountainous climate of the Himalayas suggests that the plant is highly resilient and can withstand frosts down to -15 degrees.

"The Berry of Happiness and Longevity" feels great in the Russian temperate climate, in a place where there is a lot of sunshine and average humidity. The soil on which the wolfberry is grown can be any, as the plant is very unpretentious. Goji berry, planting and caring for which are discussed in the article, can be successfully grown in the Moscow region at their summer cottage.

Goji seedlings from cuttings

How to grow goji berries on your own summer cottage plot? You can grow a wolfberry seedling from seeds or from a cutting.

Cuttings can be obtained using layering. To do this, in the middle of summer, on an already existing bush, not younger than three years of age, they are bent to the ground and buried in strong branches. Before the first frosts, the branch is cut and planted.

Cuttings can be cut separately. Cuttings about 10 cm long are carefully cut from the mother bush, and it is imperative to cut them so that at least 1 cm is "old" wood. The edge is processed with root root, and the cuttings are planted in the greenhouse. In winter, an insulated balcony is also suitable for this.

How to grow seedlings from seeds

If it is not possible to get cuttings, then you can grow a wolfberry seedling from seeds extracted from ripe goji berries. Planting and leaving seeds is somewhat different from "cuttings".

Seeds are extracted from fully ripe goji berries. They do not need to be germinated before planting, it is recommended to just soak them for a couple of hours in an immune system stimulator - zircon or epine. The seeds are placed in a medium-dry, drained, neutral soil mixture containing compost and sand. The seeds are planted close to each other in a greenhouse or another fairly bright place with a stable warm temperature and covered with a film. Watering is carried out using a spray bottle.

After the appearance of two leaves on the bush, the plants are seated in deep containers, and the tops are pinched. In greenhouse conditions, the wolfberry is aged for at least a year, after which it is planted in the ground.

Landing in open ground

The next important step in growing goji is planting and caring for seedlings. It is best to plant the tree in the ground in the spring. Since this is a cross-pollinated plant, at least two shrubs should be planted side by side.

A wolfberry seedling is planted in a hole about 40 cm deep and about 50 cm wide. The distance between each goji berry bush should be at least 1.5 meters. The soil intended for backfilling the plant is mixed with a large amount of compost, about 8-10 kg (peat or humus is suitable) with the addition of 200 g of superphosphate and 40 grams of wood ash or potassium sulfate. The seedling should be slightly deepened, sprinkled with prepared earth tightly, watered well. Cover the surface of the ground around the seedling with a protective film or straw.

And valuable information for those who do not have a summer residence, but want their own goji berry. Planting and caring for this plant is also possible at home.To grow healthy berries at home, you will need a large pot so that the powerful goji roots can grow freely. To create favorable conditions, you will need to provide the goji berry bush with plenty of light. The place in which the goji berry will grow, planting and maintenance of which is planned at home, should be located where the plant will not be exposed to cold running air from a window or door and excessively high temperatures, for example, from a heating radiator or stove. The rules of regular care for such a indoor bush are simple: do not apply mineral fertilizing at the same time as organic fertilizing, ensure constant, but not too strong, watering. And the goji berry bush will be comfortable to "winter" at a cool temperature. Of the minuses of the "home" goji - they will contain a minimum of useful substances, much less than in the "summer" copy.

Bush care

The main plus that the goji berry has is that planting and caring for this plant is quite simple. Caring for a wolfberry bush after planting is as follows:

• Watering as needed, in dry season twice a week.
• You can feed the plant, but only during the growing season.
• If desired, to give an aesthetic look, you can cut the plant and cut off the branches.
• For the winter goji should either be carefully covered with branches or transplanted into a deep container and sent to "winter" in the basement.

As you can see, it's easy to grow goji. The berry, planting and care in the suburbs, which are described in the article, is becoming more and more popular among gardeners.

Harvesting: features

No less important information than growing goji berries, planting, leaving - how to pick ripe bright berries correctly. This has its own peculiarity. A shrub grown from seeds yields a harvest of goji berries only in the third, or even in the fourth year after planting.

You only need to pick the ripe berry, when it has acquired the required bright red hue! Berries that are not ripe on a branch are categorically forbidden to be eaten, as they can cause poisoning.

In addition, contact of fresh goji with exposed skin should be avoided. If you pick berries with bare hands, the juice, getting on the skin, can cause irritation and turn your hands dark when oxidized. The most traditional way to harvest is to shake the berries from the branches onto the spread fabric. If further processing of fresh berries is necessary, it is better to protect hands with gloves.

How to store and consume ripe berries

What ways can you save the goji berry harvest taken from the bush? The most common way of eating goji berries is in dried form, and this is how most sellers in our country sell them.

To preserve useful elements in a ripe berry, drying should be done only naturally, without separating the stalk, spreading the berries in the shade. Both the use of preservatives and the effect of oven drying or direct sunlight will negatively affect the quality of dried fruits.

A sign that the berry is dried to the desired state is peeling of the skin. After that, the goji must be separated from the stalk and placed in a storage container, and then kept in a dark, dry place.

It is important to remember that it is not safe to consume a large number of goji berries right away - the body still has to get used to them. Overdose can result in dehydration and kidney problems. A safe daily dose of this herbal remedy is one tablespoon for an adult.

You can eat goji berries in any form. The easiest way is to brew the berries in a ratio of 1 tablespoon to 150 ml of boiling water. After 30 minutes, the drink is ready to drink, you need to take it along with the brewed berries.

Also goji will be an excellent addition to any dishes: soups, desserts, cereals, salads, sauces ... In addition to berries, for medicinal and tonic infusions and tea are used dried bark of the common wolfberry root and dried leaves of this shrub. Despite the miraculous properties of goji, you should remember about precautions, and before you start using the berries of this plant, consult a doctor and familiarize yourself with the existing contraindications.

Recently, unusual goji berries have come into vogue. Someone says that this is a 100% weight loss product.Others believe that these miraculous berries are a storehouse of useful and vital micronutrients. In this article, we will learn not only about why this plant is so useful and valuable, but also about how to grow goji berries in our country house.

Mysterious goji berries in Russian and scientifically are called "dereza". Actually, only fruits can be considered goji berries. Chinese Dereza (Lycium chinense), or d. ordinary or barbaric (L. barbarum). Among the people, wolfberry is also called wolfberry (but this name bears a number of different plants, including those that are not poisonous like wolfberry), lure. You can often hear the name "Tibetan barberry", but Dereza and Barberry (Berberis) are completely different plants from different families - do not mix it up! You may be slipped barberry seedlings disguised as goji. The name "goji" (Goji) came into English from the Chinese dialects - this is how the dereza is called in China.

Dereza Chinese is originally from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, in northwestern China. It was she who gave rise to so many legends and rumors about long-lived monks.

Dereza ordinary is practically not inferior to the product in terms of properties, but its distribution area is wider - you can find this berry in the east and center of China, throughout Southeast Asia, and in our country too: in Central Asia, in the Kuban, in Primorye , in the Caucasus, in Ukraine, in central Russia.

Dereza belongs to the family Solanaceae, it is a deciduous shrub, reaching three meters in height, with hanging thorny branches and small leaves. The crown can reach up to 6 m in diameter. The root system is strong with deep strong roots forming many root suckers.

The plant, if cultivated, is quite decorative: the branches are of a pleasant light yellow color, the color of the leaves is light green on top, and bluish below.

It will bloom in June and will be pleasing to the eye until October. Pink, purple, sometimes even brownish-purple flowers have a mild pleasant scent.

The berries are oblong, orange, crimson-red in color, up to 2 cm in length, envelop the shoot like a scattering. Fruiting will begin from 3 years after planting, sometimes earlier.

Goji breeding

• Seeds - well propagated by seeds. In a greenhouse without stratification, they are sown in the spring and left for the winter. When the seedlings begin to grow, pinch the top of the shoot for the density of the bush.

 

• Vegetatively - can be propagated by semi-lignified cuttings about 10 cm long, but care should be taken that there is old wood on the shoot. To do this, dip a part of the cut in Kornevin and in July-August plant it in a greenhouse or under a film. When propagated by lignified cuttings, it takes root faster. You can root in a cool place or a cool, but insulated balcony from autumn to the end of winter.

In the Caucasus, Dereza often reproduces by self-seeding.

Goji planting

For common dereza, the reaction of the soil can be slightly acidic-strongly alkaline, but in principle it can grow on any soil composition. For planting, preference should be given to sunny locations. Dereza doesn't like stagnant water. The best time to plant is spring. In autumn, goji are rarely planted, this is akin to extreme gardening, because most often it can freeze out in winter. But there are also favorable outcomes for autumn planting in warmer regions. The tests were carried out at the breeding grounds of St. Petersburg. With shelter, in a cold winter, it froze out to the level of the root collar or to the end of the snow cover. It can tolerate cold temperatures down to -15 ° C. Many sources (German nurseries) say that even down to -25 ° C, but in the middle lane it is extremely risky. In the south of Russia, it can winter without shelter.

For a goji seedling, we prepare a hole 50-60 cm wide and about 40 cm deep. We place the holes for several plants at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other.Add 150-200 g of superphosphate, 8-10 kg of compost (humus, peat), 30-40 g of potassium sulfate or wood ash to the ground for backfill and mix thoroughly. The seedlings need to be buried a little. After planting, water thoroughly and mulch with peat or humus.

Goji care

Watering: Watering the tree can only be done after planting and even no more than 2 times a week, depending on the dryness of the summer.

Top dressing: Dereza grows even on poor soils, but the best fruit quality is observed on soils with medium fertility. You can feed young plants during the growing season, then no additional feeding is needed.

Pruning: Goji tolerates haircuts and trims well. New shoots will grow from old wood. In ornamental gardening, it tolerates a haircut even with special mechanical devices.

Shelter for the winter: In winter, goji can freeze out, to be sure to be safe, many gardeners plant the plant in deep containers and store it in basements until spring. But there are also such gardeners in whom the tree does not freeze and, covered only with spruce branches and snow, hibernates until spring.

The healing properties of goji berries

Goji berries are believed to contain vitamin C, many different minerals and polysaccharides, B vitamins, and essential fatty acids. In addition, they contain a huge amount of protein, thereby overtaking even cereals. A decoction of goji berries tones the body, possibly due to its tonic properties in combination with proteins; in Chinese folk medicine it is used as a strong natural aphrodisiac. Scientific studies have actually confirmed an increase in testosterone in the blood. Due to the high content of zinc and iron, they are often used for anemia. In combination with other herbs, it can be used as a remedy for chronic fatigue and increase immunity. Useful as a remedy for hypertension. In modern medicine, the antitumor properties of goji have not been confirmed. But it has been scientifically proven that a special polysaccharide is isolated from the common wolfberry, which helps in the initial stages of diabetes.

What parts of the plant should you use?

1. Goji berries are usually used dried. Do not pick berries with your bare hands, as fresh juice of wolfberry can irritate the skin (something like, for example, fresh pineapple juice). Better to spread a cloth under the bush and knock the berries from the branches. The fruits should be picked when they turn bright red and have reached full ripeness. Unripe fresh berries can be poisoned. No wonder one of their names is wolfberry.

First you need to dry the berries, then separate them from the stalk. In order for the raw material to acquire medicinal properties, the berries must be dried until the skin begins to peel off. It can only be dried naturally, without the use of ovens and preservatives.

2. Goji root bark - used for coughs, fever, lowers blood cholesterol levels, and is also used as a diuretic and laxative. To obtain raw materials, you need to dig out the roots, rinse, remove the bark and dry thoroughly in the sun. Then make decoctions from the bark.

3. 

From goji leaves make invigorating teas.

Keep in mind that the body of a Russian person, unlike the Chinese or Tibetans, is not characterized by a large consumption of goji berries. Our body is not able to immediately adapt to the high consumption of fruits and other parts of this plant. In this regard, those who are very addicted to dereza may experience kidney problems and severe dehydration.

Goji berry varieties

The most famous in our time decorative variety 'New Bolshoi' (NEW BIG) - the brainchild of Polish selection. The fruits are round, large and sweet. An excellent honey plant and has good resistance to urban conditions (wind, heat, smoke).

The other two varieties suitable for growing in the middle lane are ‘Lhasa’ and ‘Chinese Goji’ (‘Lyciet’). ‘Chinese Goji’ has a high yield, mid-season. Goji ‘Lhasa’ begins to bear fruit early - already in the second year after planting, in contrast to other varieties that yield a harvest in the 3-4th year. It is an early ripe variety with large berries.

Today, there are also many hybrid varieties on sale (most of which are transmitted only through vegetative propagation, and not through seeds), for example, ‘NR1 Lifeberry’ is frost-resistant and resistant to diseases and pests.

I hope this article will help you grow such healthy and popular goji berries in your own country. Good luck!

The fashion for goji berries is growing at a tremendous rate. Some seek to show their effectiveness with excess weight, while others talk about the colossal beneficial properties and unique vitamin and nutritional composition, which makes berries almost a panacea for many diseases.

Botanical reference

The question immediately arises, where do goji berries grow and what it is all about. The plant is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Solanaceae family. Also, the plant is called the wolf berry (popularly, although it has nothing to do with them), red medlar, Chinese wolfberry, Chinese wolfberry, common wolfberry, zamaniha, Tibetan barberry. Homeland - Ningxia Hui (Tibet), China. The distribution area covers Southeast and Central Asia, the Caucasus, Primorye, central Russia, Ukraine.

In adulthood, the height of the plant reaches 3 m, and the crown is 6 m in diameter (photos of the goji shrub are presented). The branches are drooping and prickly, with small foliage, painted in light green on top, and a bluish tint from below. The root is very strong, growing in the ground, not on its surface.

Flowering begins in June and continues through October with blooming purple, pink, brown-purple buds with a pleasant aroma.

At the end of flowering, oblong berries of crimson-red or orange color are formed.

It is categorically impossible to eat fresh fruits, because they contain poisonous components. But after drying, the berries can be used.

Goji berries: planting and care in the suburbs

This is a thermophilic plant, therefore, for the excellent development of goji, care and cultivation must be optimal or close to it. In northern climates, the weather is completely different and efforts must be made to grow berries.

Seat selection

The plant grows very quickly and at the same time has a well-developed root system. It should be planted either in areas devoid of vegetation, or along the supports to create a hedge.

When choosing a place, you need to be extremely careful, because Dereza can "crush" nearby plants.

It is best to select areas that are sunny or in little shade. In addition, keep in mind that the height of the plant reaches three meters - take care of a reliable support.

Temperature, humidity and soil requirements

As it was said, Dereza is frost-hardy and is able to withstand temperatures ranging from -26 to + 40 ° C. There are also no special requirements for humidity. Drought tolerant.

The shrub is not capricious to the soil. Alkaline and neutral substrates are preferred. You can also plant a plant in acidic ones, but there it will develop slightly worse.

The only thing that derez does not tolerate is stagnant water. Therefore, you should be very careful when watering and do not plant the plant in areas with a rocky substrate.

Watering and feeding

Tibetan barberry is watered depending on age. In the first year, watering should be no more than twice a week. As the plant grows older, watering can be done less frequently and can be adjusted for weather and aridity.

Only young growth should be fertilized. For these purposes, superphosphate or humus is used. After growing into an adult plant, there is no need for top dressing, since Dereza feels great even on very poor lands.

Reproduction

Three methods are used for reproduction.

Seminal

The seeds are taken from pre-dried berries. To obtain seed, you should take dry fruits, soak them in water and, when they soften, pull out the seeds. In order for them to sprout well, you need to stand in a growth stimulator. After that, sowing is carried out in a container with a mixture of ordinary earth and peat in a ratio of 1: 2, deepening into the substrate by 2-3 mm.

To maintain the necessary conditions for germination, the container is covered with a film and sent to a warm place inaccessible to light. When the sprouts hatch, the box is taken out into the light and protected from cold and drafts. Watering is carried out from a spray bottle. After a week, the film can be removed, and when 3-4 leaves are formed, pick (transfer) the seedlings into separate pots (deep).

Goji seedlings, grown from seeds at home, are planted on permanently open ground in the spring, when there is confidence that frosts will not return, or already at the beginning of summer.

Planting seedlings

This option is acceptable if you managed to buy home-grown goji seedlings, or you purchased planting material from your hands.

With this method, two weeks before disembarkation, holes should be made, 40-50 cm in size. If for the southern regions, "harvesting" is performed in the fall, then for colder ones - in the spring. This will allow the plants to tolerate frost well.

Coarse sand is poured into each hole and half covered with a substrate consisting of humus and fertile soil, 8 kg each. They also add 30 g of potassium sulfate (you can replace it with a glass of wood ash), 0.15 kg of double superphosphate, mix right in the pit and plant a seedling, sprinkle with fertile soil, and then water. The trunk circle must be mulched using humus or peat.

The distance between specimens must be at least 2 m.

Cuttings

Now let's tell you how to grow goji from cuttings. Cuttings 10-12 cm long are cut from an adult plant. Then they are placed in a root-forming solution and planted for rooting in a built greenhouse and put it in a warm place. It is best to plant the material in late July - early August. In the spring, the root will grow enough to plant the goji in open ground. Caring for a young plant does not differ much from an adult.

Pruning and wintering

The shrub needs a regular "haircut". In the first years of growth, 3-6 of the strongest branches are planned. They are taken as a basis and cut around them. Then, on these main skeletal branches, shoots capable of fruiting will begin to form.

If the tree is grown for decorative purposes, then one main shoot is chosen, a long peg is driven in, and then a "haircut" is carried out, trying to form a tree. The procedure is done as soon as numerous fruiting shoots appear and the total height of the plant exceeds 1.2 m.

To prevent freezing of the root system in winter, the shrub should be earthed and mulched by 10-15 cm. The branches are protected with non-woven material (for example, agrofibre, lutrasil) folded in several layers, or with burlap. You can also play it safe, additionally throwing spruce branches over the planting, and, as soon as the snow falls, make large snowdrifts.

Pests

The plant perfectly protects itself from pests. Nevertheless, for preventive purposes, you should regularly inspect the wolfberry for the appearance of any signs of diseases or pests. If this is the case, the affected parts are trimmed and, if necessary, sprayed with insecticidal preparations, diluting them in the amount indicated by the manufacturer on the package.Do not forget that the treatment is done more than once, especially if the invasion of pests is huge.

Application and storage

The harvested fruits should be stored in a dry, dark place. If an infusion is being prepared, then it should be kept only in a cool place and no more than 2 days.

Goji berries are used not only for weight loss, but also as an ingredient in the preparation of wines, fruit purees, desserts, soups, pastries, yoghurts, tea, juices, cereals. The seeds are used to make oil. Fresh berries taste like nightshade. But as soon as the fruits are frozen or dried, the taste disappears, and the berries acquire a taste similar to dried apricots.

In the garden, wolfberry is mainly planted to obtain a useful harvest, as well as vegetable hedges. The plant is unpretentious and will not die if you have not watered or applied fertilizer. But, when planning to plant goji berries on the site, you should consider all varieties in advance and choose the most suitable ones.

Berries are widely used in medicine. So, they are taken for: pain in the back, diabetes, insomnia, anemia, obesity, excess cholesterol, problems with adenoids, vision problems, athletes thus restore their strength, etc.

As you can see, although goji berries are an exotic shrub, you don't need to go to overseas countries or buy them at a fabulous price. It is enough to observe some of the nuances, and you can easily grow a plant in your area and collect a very considerable harvest.

Goji in the garden - video

Tibetan barberry is a plant that has recently been extremely popular. Goji berries have a strengthening effect on the body, help get rid of cellulite and improve vision, each berry contains a rich set of vitamins, minerals and trace elements of natural origin. The natural habitat of the Tibetan barberry is the mountainous regions of Tibet, from where the berry is supplied to different countries in limited quantities. In this article you will find information on how to grow goji berries on your own, on the selection and processing of seeds for planting in the country.

Berries from Tibet

Useful zamaniha (Russian name for goji) promises relief from a number of diseases.

In Tibet, they have long learned to use the fruits of dereza: local shamans prepared tinctures and potions to cure various diseases. For several centuries, the secret of this plant has been successfully hidden, but now goji berries can be bought for the prevention and treatment of diseases in any country.

Dereza belongs to the Solanaceae family - a tall shrub up to 2 meters in height, has tangled flexible shoots with thorns, blooms with small star-shaped, funnel-shaped lilac flowers with green veins. During flowering, wolfberry attracts bees - the plant is an ideal honey plant.

A huge number of species of this shrub are distributed throughout the world (about 80 species are known): African Dereza - in Africa; shanghai barberry - in China; Lycium is found in the foothills of the Caucasus. The plant develops well on slightly salted soils, after flowering, which lasts the second half of the summer, fruits ripen - red, yellow or orange berries. There are varieties with purple berries.

In Russia, dereza was known under the names: zamanih (zamaniha), devil's whips, tkenna (in the Caucasus).

Only goji berries from Tibet have healing properties.

Growing wolfberry from seeds

This plant has many names, in Russia the most common is lure.

To plant an amazing plant with medicinal berries on your site, you need to grow a sufficient number of seedlings to provide a yield of wolfberry in an amount sufficient for the treatment or prevention of diseases. An undemanding plant takes root well in summer cottages in the Moscow region.Caring for plants does not differ in anything special, Dereza puts up with marginal soils of medium salinity.

In nature, Dereza (Tibetan barberry) multiplies by self-sowing - the berries, falling to the ground, germinate, forming new thickets.

At home, if it is impossible to take cuttings from adult plants, the shrub will have to be grown from seeds, carefully observing the agricultural techniques of growing this plant. Dereza seeds for planting in the country can be purchased in specialized stores, or you can use goji berries for breeding.

Seed planting is carried out in winter, around mid-February. The seeds released from the berries are soaked in a solution of growth stimulants, excellent results were noted when using "Epin", "Zircon" and "Humate". The seeds are kept in the solution for about 2 hours, after which they are immediately sown in containers filled with a mixture of peat and loam. For better seed germination, the bowl must be covered with glass or plastic wrap, creating greenhouse conditions.

The first shoots begin to appear approximately 2 weeks after sowing, at this time weak shoots must be protected from direct sunlight. It is necessary to dive young seedlings in the phase of 2-3 leaves, while each plant should be transplanted into a separate pot.

After transplanting, Dereza grows quickly, therefore, before planting in open ground, it may be necessary to transfer it into a larger container. It is useful to pinch the growth point in young plants - this operation will allow you to get seedlings with a well-developed crown.

It is allowed to plant bushes in a permanent place in warm weather, when there is no danger of morning frosts.

Dereza from cuttings

If Tibetan Dereza bushes have already been planted on the site, the plant can be propagated with green cuttings, which are cut from the bushes in the second half of summer. Such plants cannot be planted in the ground in the fall, therefore, growing new specimens of wolfberry from cuttings will require free space in greenhouses, where the plants must remain until spring.

For grafting, it is worth choosing a branch with a fragile bark, from the middle part of which cuttings 10 -12 cm long are cut. The prepared cuttings are soaked in a solution of growth stimulants, after which they are planted in boxes with a nutritious earthen mixture based on peat. It is useful to add loamy soil to the peat base. The planted cuttings of wolfberry are covered with foil, creating greenhouse conditions.

The appearance of roots is observed already after 2-3 weeks, when the growth of leaves reaches the number of 3 pieces, the plants are transferred into pots of larger diameter, where young bushes of Tibetan barberry will winter. Caring for plants during wintering includes periodic watering and examinations for the presence of pests, which should be destroyed in a timely manner.

Agrotechnics of care in the open field

Dereza blooms with inconspicuous lilac flowers.

Tibetan barberry (not to be confused with real barberry, which belongs to a completely different botanical species) is a very undemanding plant, it can tolerate short-term drought, put up with poor and saline soils, but in order to get a rich harvest of berries, it is necessary to provide the tree with proper care.

Soils with a slightly acidic reaction are suitable for planting dereza, but growing shrubs is possible on any soil. The plant grows best in open areas, because the size of the average bush is large enough. You should not choose shady places with a high level of groundwater for placing plants - the Tibetan barberry is afraid of getting wet, it develops better in sunny places.

It is best to plant bushes in open ground in spring, because during autumn plantings, the plant can easily freeze out. Without shelter, the bushes winter well at temperatures up to -15C in the southern regions of our country.When the temperature in winter drops to - 25C, it is required to cover the culture, but even such actions cannot guarantee that the Dereza will overwinter without frostbite. Sometimes the bushes, not covered enough, freeze out to the level of the root collar, but in the spring they successfully grow back.

Seat

Zamanihi seedlings are planted in separate pits, which are located at a distance of up to 2 meters from each other. The dimensions of the pit are 50x50x40 (for small seedlings), 60x60x40 - for adult bushes. The soil taken out of the pit is mixed with peat, humus, wood ash and superphosphate, in a ratio (weight in kg) 5: 5: 0.04: 0.2. The root collar is slightly deepened when planting. The near-trunk circle should be thoroughly watered, mulched on top with peat chips or humus.

Dereza care

Small seedlings of wolfberry, cut into different pots.

It is very easy to care for wolfberry bushes:

1. Watering - the plant must not be poured, therefore watering is carried out taking into account summer temperatures, taking into account moisture due to precipitation. In dry weather, plants can be watered 2 times a week.
2. Top dressing - soils of medium fertility are ideal for growing a plant. Fertilizers are applied in the first half of summer after planting the plant in open ground; the Tibetan barberry does not need further feeding.
3. Wintering - there are two ways to preserve plants in winter: building a reliable shelter, the second way is to preserve the dug out bushes in a greenhouse, with planting in the ground every spring. Both methods have their pros and cons. With a winter shelter, there is no guarantee that the plant will not freeze out in severe frosts, but it will not receive additional stress during transplantation.
4. Pruning - Goji bushes tolerate shaping haircuts and cardinal pruning. Plants quickly grow green mass, bloom well on new branches and bear fruit productively.
5. Protection from pests - Tibetan barberry is highly resistant to diseases, pests also rarely visit this plant. Sometimes aphids can harm wolfberry seedlings, but this pest does not damage adult plants. In rainy weather, powdery mildew may appear on young plants. Bushes should be treated with phytoncides.

Dereza bushes dug out for the winter can get sick in greenhouse conditions, which will not allow them to give good growth when transplanted into open ground. Annual transplants lead to a shift in the timing of the ripening of the crop closer to autumn, thereby reducing the productivity of the bushes.

Proper care of wolfberry bushes guarantees a high yield of berries, which are distinguished by high prophylactic and healing properties.