How to Grow Goji Leaves? A Detailed Guide to Goji Leaf Cultivation Methods

Goji leaves are the tender stems and leaves of the goji plant (Lycium chinense) in the Solanaceae family, and can be used for cooking and brewing tea. As a vegetable, goji leaves are mostly used in soups, such as goji and pork liver soup, salted egg and goji soup, and so on. So, how do you grow goji leaves?

1. Garden soil selection

The garden site requires good drainage, deep soil, and well-aerated light loam, sandy loam, and loam, with soil organic matter content above 1.0%, soil salt content of around 0.5%, a pH value of around 8, a groundwater level below 1.2 m, and an effective living soil layer below 30 cm. Low-lying areas with long-term standing water, and areas where the air, irrigation water, or soil is polluted, cannot be used for establishing a garden. According to the size and terrain features of the garden site, first plan the drainage and irrigation system (including branch canals and branch ditches) to ensure smooth drainage; production roads should facilitate the transport of fertilizer and the hauling of fresh fruit, and should be reasonably laid out.

2. Planting requirements

Spring sowing is the main method; open furrows at a row spacing of 40 cm for drilling, with a sowing depth of 1.5-3 cm, and cover with soil 1-3 cm after sowing. After the seedlings emerge, water them in a timely manner. When the root diameter reaches 0.7 cm, they can be lifted from the nursery and transplanted.

3. Field management

Cultivation and weeding: cultivation takes place from May to July. The first cultivation is in May, with a cultivation depth of about 10 cm, clearing weeds while also removing root-sucker seedlings under the canopy and vigorous shoots sprouting near the trunk and root crown. The second cultivation is in early June; upon entering the fruit-ripening stage, cultivate and weed in a timely manner to keep the garden surface clean and make it easier to pick up fallen fruit during harvest. The third cultivation is in late July, removing weeds to facilitate fruit picking and enhance the effectiveness of pesticide spraying for pest and disease control.

Turning and sunning the garden: after nearly half a year of production management and trampling by people during the harvest period, the living soil layer becomes compacted, so the garden needs deep plowing and sunning of the soil, from late September to early October, with a turning and sunning depth of about 25 cm.

Fertilizer and water management: according to the fertilizer requirements of vegetative growth during the annual growth period of goji, apply foliar topdressing in mid-May, mid-June, and late August, mainly with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers, supplemented by trace-element fertilizers. Basically irrigate once about every 20 days; upon entering the fruit enlargement stage, irrigate once every 15 days.

4. Timely harvesting

Harvesting of goji can begin 50-60 days after cuttings are planted. First harvest the vigorously growing branches, leaving the remaining young branches to continue growing; when new branches grow to 40-50 cm and before the basal leaves age, cut the tender branches at the base. Harvesting can be done in several rounds.

To grow fresh and tender, delicious goji leaves, every step of field management is important.