Goji Berry Transplanting Methods and Key Field Management Techniques

1. Transplanting can be done every year from leaf fall in autumn and winter until before bud break the following spring. Among these, March to April in spring is best. After digging up the seedlings, remove the excessively long fine roots, plant 1 seedling per hole, then return soil into the hole; when the hole is half filled, gently lift the seedling upward so its roots spread out, then fill the hole with soil, water thoroughly to settle the roots, and firm the soil. Then cover with another layer of loose soil 10 cm above the ground.

2. Field management

(1) Intertillage and weeding, and turning and sunning the soil

Intertillage and weeding are generally carried out 3 times per year: the 1st in early May, the 2nd in early to mid-June, and the 3rd in late July. In the first 2 to 3 years after planting, intercrops are grown, and intertillage and weeding can be carried out together with the care of the intercrops.

Turning and sunning the soil is done to retain moisture and raise soil temperature and to promote root growth. It is usually carried out 2 times per year: the 1st in late March to early April, with a shallow turning of 12 to 15 cm, and the 2nd in early to mid-August, when a deep turning of 20 cm can be done.

(2) Fertilization

During the plant growth period, fertilize 3 times per year. The 1st in early May, the 2nd in early June, and the 3rd in late June. Apply 15 to 20 kg of human and livestock manure water and 100 g of urea per plant in holes beside the plant; after application, irrigate and cover with soil. In addition, from May to July, apply a foliar topdressing once a month with 0.5% urea and 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Every year in early to mid-November, before watering to seal in the frozen water, apply 20 kg of human and livestock manure water, 50 kg of farmyard manure, and 2 kg of cake fertilizer per plant in holes or trenches dug around the root zone; after application, cover with soil and earth up around the root zone to help the plants overwinter.

(3) Irrigation

During the plant growth and flowering and fruiting periods, irrigation is usually carried out 3 to 4 times: once in late April and early May, and thereafter once every 15 days. The high-temperature season coincides with the fruit ripening period, when water demand is high, so water once after each fruit harvest. During the autumn shoot growth period, water once each in early August, early September, and early November, and water 1 to 2 times with winter water before the soil freezes.

(4) Training and pruning

In order to develop a high-yielding tree form, the training and pruning of goji berry is divided into two periods: training and pruning of young trees and pruning of mature trees.

① Training and pruning of young trees: In the 1st year of planting, at a point 60 cm up the trunk, cut off the top. In that same year, from the new shoots that emerge, select and keep 5 to 6 evenly distributed shoots to train as the main branches of the 1st layer of the canopy. In summer and autumn, cut back the upper part of the retained main branches, leaving short branches 20 cm long (this is called heading back). The retained main branches can then produce many side branches; in summer, head them back leaving 20 to 30 cm, and appropriately remove weak branches (this is called thinning).

In the 2nd year after planting, from the upright shoots growing from the upper part of the trunk, select and keep 1 vigorous branch as the extending trunk, cut off its upper part at 60 cm from the 1st layer of the canopy, and from the side branches growing from the branch, keep another 5 to 6 as main branches to train the 2nd layer of the canopy.

In the 3rd year after planting, from the upright shoots growing from the top of the 2nd layer of the canopy, select 1 strong branch as the extending main branch, cut off its upper part at 40 cm from the 2nd layer of the canopy, and from the side branches that grow out, select 3 to 5 to train as the main branches of the 3rd layer of the canopy.

Through 3 years of pruning, the plant can be shaped into a high-yielding canopy with a thick trunk, distinct layers, and vigorous growth. At the same time, branches that are too dense should be cut off from the base, and those growing excessively vigorously should have their upper parts cut off.

② Pruning of mature trees: Mature trees are goji berry trees that have entered the full flowering and fruiting period. Pruning in this period is carried out twice a year, in May to June and August to November, mainly to cut off dead branches, water sprouts, overly dense branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, upright branches growing from the top of the main trunk, useless horizontal branches, and thorny branches, while retaining vigorous growing branches. Through pruning, nutrient consumption is reduced, which helps ventilation and light penetration, reduces diseases and pests, and controls tree height, favoring fruit development and fruiting branch growth and achieving the goal of high yield.