Goji berries are tiny red fruits that are very nutritious. They add color not only to your garden but also to your dinner plates!
Is something bothering your goji berry plants? Let’s look at how you can fix it!
Are goji berry leaves turning white?
If you see a greyish/white powdery cover on your leaves and they’re falling off, then your plant is affected by the Powdery mildew.
The leaves become curled. Powdery mildew affects your plants so bad that they get stunted and stop flowering.
This disease is usually seen in humid weather conditions. This happens if the goji berry plant is suffocated by other plants.
Neem oil can be used to treat an affected plant. Spray it on the affected leaves. This disease can be prevented by pruning and keeping your garden beds weed-free.
Why are goji berry leaves yellowing?
Goji berry leaves become yellow when the plant is affected by Septorial fungi. It famously affects tomato plants. It is found when the plants experience extended periods of wet, humid weather conditions.
Affected leaves have yellowish spots on them. They usually appear on lower leaves. Eventually this blight cause defoliation and stunted growth.
If it’s in the early stages, you can prune the affected leaves. Chemical/Organic fungicides may be used to treat the disease.
Are your goji berry leaves wilting?
Leaves wilt when you don’t water them regularly. They do it to reduce the evaporation of water. In the first 6 months of planting goji berries keep the soil moist but not soggy.
If the plants still do not recover then it’s better to cover them(using shade cover) from sunlight during the hotter hours of the day.
They get wilted when they’re affected by some kind of disease as I mentioned before, so look for any signs of diseases.
Are your goji berry leaves turning purple?
Did your leaves turn purple? This happens when the plant goes into transplant shock. This is not hard to deal with.
After you transplant the goji berry, water it well and keep it shaded for the first week. The leaves may fall off but don’t worry as new leaves that are suitable for the new environment will grow soon.
In rare cases, this can also be caused by diseases and drought.
Why are goji berries turning black?
Do you see black spots on your berries just as the fruit begins to ripe? It may be due to a fungal disease called Anthracnose.
Initially, these spots are small, then they spread to the entire fruit, rotting it. Anthracnose attacks in hot and humid conditions.
To treat the diseased plant you can spray copper-based fungicide on the infected parts of the plant. Be careful not to over-spray as it can be toxic.
Preventive measures
To avoid this, plant your goji seeds spaciously. Keep a clean garden that is free of diseased plant debris and remove weeds as soon as you see them.
Use organic mulch to prevent spores from falling onto leaves.
Why do my goji berries not bear fruit?
Goji berries start bearing fruit after 2 to 5 years. They need well-drained soil with adequate sunlight to successfully blossom and bear fruits.
If yours is a warm place then you should choose a variety that can thrive in warm places. Certain varieties give out more fruits easily.
Many people from the pacific northwest have told me that it’s hard to grow goji there as it’s pretty damp. If you are from such areas it’s better not to plant them in the first place.
Let’s look at how to care for your goji plants.
When should goji berries be pruned?
Pruning is necessary to keep a plant healthy and achieve desired results. Proper care should be taken and a schedule should be followed to get the best results.
During the first year
Do not do any pruning in the first year, let it grow as a bush. You should not disturb it in the first year.
From 2nd to 5th year
I recommend that you cut only lateral stems that are below 50cms and leave only one strong stem for future growth purposes.
Cut all the branches that are at an angle of more than 45° to the main shoot and leave only 3 to 4 branches that are at a lesser angle. These branches will be your fruit-bearing branches.
The strongest stem will be allowed to grow as the main stem. During winter, cut any dead, dying branches off.
Prune off any actively growing lateral branches so as to promote new branch growth. This ensures that you get maximum fruits.
In summer, prune the top of the plant to keep it at the desired height. Cut any sprouts near the base of your plant to control unwanted plant growth.
How much water do Goji berries need?
First, make sure your goji plants are in the soil where there’s proper drainage. Just give your goji plants adequate water.
Here is a rule of thumb.
For the first 6 months make sure your soil is moist. At any time you don’t want your soil moisture to go below 40%. You can check the moisture in the soil even with your fingers.
It’s better to give them 1-1.5 inches of water per week. Do not water them at one-go, it’s better to spread your watering sessions over the week.
Where do Goji berries grow best?
They spread through runners. That’s why Goji berries need a lot of breathing space, so keep that in mind when planting these in your garden.
For these plants, full sun is the best but it can tolerate some shade. It can’t thrive in the pacific northwest regions of the US.
Wrappin’ it up
Take regular care of your goji berry plants and pluck out weeds around the plants as soon as you see them. Mulch the plant beds well. Water regularly and prune when needed.
I wish you a Gojiful Garden ;))