tommygojiseed web store FAQ section

It's quite simple to grow Goji Berries from seeds, but it does take a little bit of planning. Start the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks prior to the last frost date in your area. The seeds can be extracted from the pods by moistening them between dampened paper towels for one-two hours, then slicing them open and carefully removing the seeds with a toothpick. Seeds should then be planted immediately. Plant about 1/4 inch deep, in flats or small pots using sterile seed starting material. This will help to prevent soil born disease problems. We like to use peat pellet mini greenhouses which come in many sizes and range from 4-30 dollars (you can price them on Amazon here: https://tinyurl.com/gSeedStarters ) We recommend 2-3 seeds in each pot for the best results. Water lightly and keep consistently moist until germination occurs. If the seeds dry out, they will die. If you use pots you can cover them with a plastic bag to help maintain the soil moisture but be sure to remove once plants appear. (if you use a mini greenhouse just follow the instructions that they come with) Full light and cooler temperatures (60 to 70°F) will help to prevent the seedlings from becoming too leggy. After the seeds have germinated, place them in a location that receives a lot of light. If this is not an option, a fluorescent lamp fixture rigged so that it is a couple of inches above the plants will work. If they do not receive adequate light, they will become spindly. After the plants have their second or third set of true leaves, and before they become root bound, transplant into 4-inch pots. This transplanting step will allow the plant to develop properly and promote root growth. Harden off Which is: The straightforward process of gradually acclimating a tender seedling, germinated and nurtured under artificial conditions, for life in the wilds of the garden. For most tender plants (Gojis, peppers, etc.), hardening off for two weeks is desirable. Examine your garden on a frosty morning searching for areas that are relatively free from frost. For the first week, place your plants outside during the warmest part of the day. Initially limit their exposure, bringing them back indoors and undercover, after a few hours. During the second week, gradually extend the amount of time you leave them outside, bringing them back in during the evening. By the end of the second week, assuming that there is no longer any threat of frost, your plants should be ready for transplanting into the garden. plants before transplanting outside. Be careful while transplanting so that you do not disturb or damage the roots too much. Young plants are very tender and susceptible to frost damage, as well as sunburn. I protect my young plants by placing a one-gallon milk jug, with the bottom removed, to form a miniature greenhouse. A couple of days of special attention like this will help to ensure a high rate of success.

Our plants are trimmed down to a few inches and put into dormancy prior to shipment. This is done for the best results of your goji berry plant. Heavy pruning promotes bushy growth and that equals better berry production! It also dramatically reduces stress caused to the plant during shipment. If you receive your Goji Berry plant in dormancy (yes it looks like a dead stick with no leaves, no we didn't ship you a dead plant!), you may plant it directly in its permanent home. If your plant arrives during the active growing season it will require a little more TLC, it is important to plant (preferably in a pot) immediately in the shade until it has acclimated to its new environment. If it is very hot and dry, be sure to give it plenty of water and you might even want to put an empty milk jug with the bottom cut out or a plastic bag loosely over the top to help conserve moisture for a day or two while the plant is acclimating. After acclimation, you can plant it in a permanent location, either in a one-gallon pot (or larger, 5 gallon is best) or in the ground. If it arrives between seasons please do not be too concerned about yellowing and leaf drop. We also have been advising checking soil for calcium/magnesium, as the goji requires this for proper growth. Any soil is fine, with the exception of water bog. Many acidic soils can be improved with dolomite or ag lime which is basically calcium magnesium carbonate. The ideal pH soil level is from 7.4 to 8.4. It is normal for your goji to drop some if not all of its leaves while it is getting acclimated to your particular weather conditions. They will quickly grow new leaves if it is still during the active growing season or they may go into dormancy if you are approaching fall or winter weather. Goji Berry plants thrive on at least 8 hours of sunlight a day.

Aristotelia Chilensis is an evergreen shrub found in areas such as South America - Chile and Argentina. A member of the Elaeocarpaceae family, Aristotelia Chilensis is also known by its common name of Macqui or Maqui. The shrub can grow to a height of 3 meters and up to 5 meters wide. It is naturally found in the wild growing in damp humus rich soils on lower mountain hillsides. Maqui is zone 8 hardy plant and known the world over for its medicinal uses and extreme health benefits. The fruit it produces can be consumed raw or dried and has a pleasant taste somewhat like bilberries. Maqui refers a slightly acid, moderately fertile well-draining soil in full sun location, with shelter from cold drying winds. The plant should best be propagated by seed. Sow indoors with ample natural or artificial light or in a greenhouse. When seedlings are large enough to handle plant them into individual pots and grow them in the greenhouse (or indoors) for at least the first winter. Once the plants are about 8 inches (or about 20cm) tall, plant them out into their permanent location in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors.