How to Grow Goji Berries USA

At a Glance

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Soil pH	5.5 - 8
Sunlight	6-8 hours direct sun
Soil texture	Clay, loam or sand (RHS); tolerates a wide range, drought-tolerant once established (NC State Extension)
Drainage	Moist but well-drained or well-drained; free-draining preferred (RHS)
Lifecycle	Hardy deciduous shrub, 5-10 years to full maturity (RHS)
Edible parts	fruit

Soil & Growing Conditions

Soil pH range

5.5 8

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Propagation and establishment	0	Propagate by seed indoors in spring, hardwood cuttings in winter, softwood cuttings in early summer, layering in autumn, or suckers in late winter (RHS). Train against a wall or fence, or stake, since the plant naturally sprawls (RHS; NC State Extension).
Vegetative growth	3	Grow in full sun in free-draining soil enriched with compost. Once established, tolerates wind, salt-laden air and drought (RHS).
Flowering and fruit set	6	Begins fruiting after 2-3 years (RHS).
Harvest	8	Harvest from late summer until first frosts; only fully ripe fruit is edible, and it should be shaken onto a sheet rather than hand-picked, since handling turns unripe fruit black (RHS).

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: Harvest from late summer until the first frosts (RHS). Only fully ripe fruit is edible; it turns black if handled, so shake berries gently onto a sheet laid beneath the plant rather than picking by hand (RHS).

Diseases

Pests

Sources

1. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - Goji Berry (Lycium)

   Full sun (6+ hrs). Tolerates various soils, performs best in well-drained soil of moderate quality; drought-tolerant. Propagate by seed (preferred), cuttings, or layering. Naturally creeps along the ground -- benefits from staking for easier harvest. Berries display/harvest in summer, edible raw, cooked or dried. States that Lycium barbarum has become problematic across much of Europe, North America and Australia, and describes it as a federally recognised noxious weed in the United States.

These source is specific to this region. The full list of 3 sources behind this guide (North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Plants For A Future (PFAF), Royal Horticultural Society) is in the references of our UK guide to goji berries; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.