Detailed explanation of key points of goji berry cultivation techniques, teaching you how to grow goji berries well

1 Growth habits

Goji berry has strong adaptability; during the growing season it can endure high temperatures of 38°C, and its cold resistance is also strong. Goji berry can adapt in both survival and effective production. The most suitable temperature for flowering is 17°C~22°C, and the most suitable temperature for fruit development is 20°C~25°C. When the autumn temperature drops below 10°C, fruit growth and development slow down. Goji berry is a strongly sun-loving tree species; without light it does not bear fruit, and it is not suitable for cultivation under shaded conditions. It has low requirements for soil and is tolerant of salinity and alkalinity. It grows and develops normally on sierozem and desert soil with a soil salt content of 0.5%~0.9% and a pH value of 8.5~9.5. Cultivation is most suitable on light loam and medium loam, especially irrigated silt soil.

2 Propagation techniques

The most widely used method in production is cutting propagation. Choose loam close to a water source, with flat terrain, sufficient sunlight, and loose soil. Apply 1~1.5 t of barnyard manure per 667 m2, and plow deeply in autumn. The following spring, make beds 1 m wide. After sap flow begins and before sprouting, select 1-year-old branches with plump buds, cut them into cuttings 14~16 cm long, insert them obliquely into the prepared beds, leave one bud exposed, press firm, and water.

3 Planting

Ningqi No. 1 is planted at a density of 445 plants per mu, with a plant-row spacing of 100 cm x 150 cm. Korean goji berry is planted at about 1000 plants per mu, with a plant-row spacing of 70 cm x 100 cm or 60 cm x 100 cm. In newly developed goji berry planting areas, in order to propagate planting material, the number of plants per mu can be increased by 1~2 times. On both sides of the Great Wall, the cutting time is from March 21 to April 5.

4 Field management

4.1 Cultivate and weed 3~4 times.

4.2 Topdressing: apply urea or compound fertilizer in May and August, 10~15 kg per 667 m2 each time. It can be applied before rain; if there is no precipitation, water after topdressing.

4.3 In spring and autumn, water if drought occurs.

4.4 Korean goji berry needs support stakes.

5 Training and pruning

The basic structure of the Ningqi No. 1 tree form is: single trunk, two main branches, and a two-and-a-half-layer canopy. The training years and methods are: in the first year, head the plant and cut the top; in the second and third years, cultivate the canopy layers; in the fourth year, release the top to form the shape. Formation standards: plant height about 1.6 m, upper canopy width 1.3 m, lower canopy width 1.6 m, and about 200 fruiting branches per plant. In the year of planting, head at 60 cm and select 3~5 evenly distributed main branches. In the second year, select 3~4 new branches on the main branches and cut them back at 30 cm. In the third year, cut back new branches on the second-layer scaffold branches at 20 cm. After the canopy is basically formed, each year in summer or autumn mainly remove dead branches, old and weak branches, diseased and pest-damaged branches, overlapping branches, ground-sweeping branches, and thin out excessively dense branches.

6 Pest and disease control

The main insect pests include aphids, eriophyid mites, and leaf beetles, which can be controlled by spraying 40% omethoate 1000-fold solution or 20% pyridaben wettable powder 3000~4000-fold solution. The common disease is goji berry black fruit disease, which damages flowers, buds, stems, leaves, and fruits. It should be controlled by spraying 1:1:120 Bordeaux mixture or carbendazim 1000-fold solution at the early stage of the disease.