Unfortunately, most varieties of the goji berry, like the wild form of the common wolfberry, are relatively susceptible to infestation with fungal diseases such as powdery mildew. If it is not possible to switch to resistant varieties from the outset, mildew infestation should be counteracted with a combination of care and control measures.
With a little help, goji berries recover quickly from powdery mildew
Mildew infestation - prevent and contain
Basically, plant varieties susceptible to powdery mildew should not be planted too close together and should be cut regularly to ensure good ventilation of all parts of the plant. But while downy mildew is favored by permanently wet site conditions, powdery mildew can also spread particularly well on dry and warm days. Affected parts of the plant should be removed and disposed of as quickly as possible. This measure can sometimes also be combined with an already pending pruning.
Natural anti-mildew remedies
In order to fight a powdery mildew infestation that is still in the early stages with the most natural means possible, the twigs and leaves can be treated with the following sprays:
- Mixture of one part milk and five parts water
- Baking soda solution: Dissolve a packet of baking soda in three liters of water and some canola oil
- field horsetail solution
tips
If your goji berries are affected by a type of mildew, you should no longer use the leaves for consumption (as is common practice in some countries). As a rule, however, you can still harvest and process berries that have already ripened, unless you are allergic to mold and are not particularly sensitive to mold and allergic reactions are to be expected.