Giji berries come from the Himalas. I doubt they can be grown many places. The chocolate coated ones sound good though. ;)

Libby

I did a little searching on the internet and apparently the seed and even plants are available from a couple of sources in Canada so they are probably attainable stateside. This T&M link below shows the plant and it looks like they would be hardy here.

Annette

Here is a link that might be useful: Goji Berry

I bought a pack of seed from Richter's (listed, I think, as wolfberries) in Canada. The pack had dried berries, which was a little tedious. However, after freeing the seeds there were plenty and the germination rate was really good. So good, in fact, I was wondering how weedy the plants might be.

I also bought seed (of Lycium chinense or L. barbarum, whichever one Richter's didn't sell) from J.L. Hudson, and those had a great germination rate also. Each seller sent way more seed than most people would really need.

Honestly, my plants haven't grown very quickly, I'm wondering if I shouldn't put tubes around them. On the other hand, they have survived being trampled by kids and chewed on by chickens, not to mention drought and uneven watering on my part. A friend here got a few pots of my extras and hers were covered with planks (by workers) when her deck was being built. Those survived too! So, the plants are troopers.

The plants that have done best for me are in full blazing sun and have clay/loam soil. Two that are doing well enough are in full sun, but have more sandy soil. One in part shade didn't make it, but it may have died for another reason (see above).

I know the actual plants can be ordered, but I'm a little surprised they aren't more widely available given how easy they are to grow (at least here). I'm hoping mine will mature within a few years, the berries are hard to come by here.

kent

I have also put some seeds in, and am planning on taking them to my food seeding class on Thurs. Evening. There is a man who occassionally posts to the Georgia forum named Lostman, you can look him up on GW and send him an email. He's really a nice guy and he grows all sorts of unusual fruits which are hardy here. He does grow wolfberries.

GGG

Annette, my darling Dad(81 retired surgeon) has become very interested in natural healing plants and was given a little package of goji berries from one of my many dear sisters(I have 5 of those).
Now he was supposed to put them on his cereal or whatever but being the inquisitive man he is , he opened one up and just for fun planted the little seeds in the first thing handy which was an aloe plant(from the same sister)......
....they grew and my Dad presented his little plants to various members of the family with differing results...mine died, I think I needed Kent's sleeves and a lot more care.
I'm not sure if any of the others have survived, Dad is in a city apartment and I think we are all unwilling to fess up to failure where he had such success....long story short....don't pay a bunch for your seeds, they are in the berries,LOL, M

Martha as I type this I have a couple of seeds soaking in a bit of water, I will put these to germinate as soon as I have finished typing this, most seeds like tomatoes etc. I germinate in damp paper towel in a plastic bag. I baked Lorna's Cape Breton Scones yesterday which had both dried Cranberries and Goji Berries. I was lucky enough to snatch a scone for myself the rest just disappeared, Hmmm, I wonder who? LOL.

Annette

Update... I looked today and the Goji berry seed has germinated, Martha you are so right no need to buy seed. The one I have is Lycium barbarum bought at one of the local health food stores. I'll plant a few up tomorrow and scrap the rest as they look like the hair on a dog's back, only on paper towel instead. Now the trick is to see if I can grow them on.

Annette

I do! :) We got to eat the berries for the first time this year. They were great! I just removed the seeds from the bag of dried goji berries I bought & germinated them with the damp paper towel & plastic bag. It has withstood the winter here for 2 or 3 winters and this is the first year it flowered. Be sure to have a trelis or stick to support the limbs though. (I'm Houston, Texas)

Started seedlings last winter and have three plants doing well now out on our deck. They are tough little plants since initially I neglected them something awful!

Congratulations on your success in Texas themello! As we have similar climates, I hope to duplicate that here in Oklahoma!

come to visit my website go-goji.com to demystify 'tibetan goji'. I work with my china partner to introduce super goji cultivar to america.
www.go-goji.com

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.go-goji.com

Lycium barbarum has grown in the UK for several centuries but the name 'Goji berry' is new here and is basically a marketing ploy. The plant has naturalised in many areas, especially coastal places, and some consider them to be an invasive alien. They would certainly grow in Vancouver BC I should think. If you Google Lycium barbarum you will find lots of information.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lycium barbarum

Annette - in answer to whether the berries covered in chocolate negates the health benefit: if is was dark chocolate, I think you probably doubled your benefit!!

;-)) Nancy.

Yes Grow your own goji's, especially if the plants have already hardened in.

You may find it on Craigs List in several States, remember this though , most the internet is sale pitch attached to Himalayan and its not much truth its just a pitch for wild organic, the major farm is in China, on river bottom, they like high ph soils opposite most woody plants.
PS Choose the Wolf Berry and don't belive it about the Tibetan sales pitch that's all it is. they are not going to be berries from there, they mostly come from China where most all are produced, as Wolf berry because it is the premium breed. Basically a Goji Plant has adapted well to the 2000 years of cultivation in China.

This guy has experience.

http://eugene.craigslist.org/for/1071963400.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Craigslist

My friend tried to include Goji berries at the behest of her naturapath... well she was wracked with tummy problems shortly after... it disappeared when she stopped taking the berries. Just a word of caution. It may not suite everyone.

Ianna

I am trying to wintersow some seeds I picked out of berries from the health store -- we'll see.
The dried berries are kind of bleh to eat -- are fresh ones good?

If you are interested in the plants, Timpanogos sells them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Timpanogos Nursery

You can grow your own plants, its not rocket science, and they grow about any where. The only work is the first 6 months to nurse them along and get them toughened in.

Here is a link that might be useful: Craigs List

I have a Garden full of Goji Plants, you can grow them almost anywhere , you can do it, you can check mine out , if I updated the pictures , some times I don't get to it , very busy and CL makes you repost it every time.

Just enter Goji in the search box at Eugene Craigs List, thanks. Have great Garden this summer, save on you Veggies.

I'm growing Goji berries to sell and live in Central Texas, zone 8b. This past Winter, we had 18 degrees at night. The 6 that are planted in the ground survived without any problems. I had some babies in a cold frame that I did cover when the temps dropped so low, but that was only because they were small. They all managed to come through it without any problems.

I think all you need to do is to try growing it. You might surprise yourself.

Xtal

I also live in Zone 8,and am wondering when is the best time to plant rooted cuttings in the ground.

Where in zone 8? Z 8 TX is very different from GA and WA, though all 3 have zone 8 minimum winter temperatures. In general, though, if the ground is thawed you can plant, and planting in moderate temperatures is better than with extremes. Mulch the ground well for several feet around the plants (not against the stems, though) and keep an eye on soil moisture by actually checking soil moisture to see if it is lightly moist. You want to avoid soggy or dry, and long slow watering less often is better than short daily watering.

Good for you Tessa. Nothing like getting a new plant in the ground. I had to forego mine because there wasn't a good bed made for it. So, the weeds consumed it and it disappeared. I hope you'll do better than I did. One day, I'll be starting them again.

Were I you and you are working with cuttings, I'd pot them up and get the roots well developed before I put them in the ground. If you have enough cuttings, why not try both and then report back to everyone what you had the most success with. Since we haven't hit our last freeze date, whatever you put in the ground will need to be protected before the last freeze. I planted some Firecracker Plants last Fall and didn't want them to freeze back till they developed much better roots. So, I spent this winter covering each of my 3 plants to insure that they grow and be ready to take off this Spring. Now, those pots had roots, but bowing bound and determined... I'm counting of these being in bloom when the first hummingbird scouts come through Temple and that it all call them to stay long enough until the Turk's Cap starts sending up leaves/blooms. If not, the the red Salvias in that Hummingbird Island will definitely be definitely be blooming as I see greens leaves on most all of them.

If you'd like to take some pics of your cuttings and want a little more hand holding, then I love seeing pictures. So, I'm Including my email addy for you: crystalfisher912@.gmail.com . .