The wild forms of the goji berry, also known as common buckthorn or dodder, are also found in some regions of Germany. However, the hope of a satisfactory harvest is more likely to be fulfilled if you only plant appropriately selected cultivars in your garden.

Some cultivars bear particularly large fruits

Differences and similarities between wild forms and productive varieties

Since the targeted cultivation of Goji berries has been practiced in Asia for centuries, many widespread cultivars come from China and Mongolia. In the meantime, however, there are also selections from other regions of the world, some of which are even used for commercial cultivation on cultivation areas in Germany. Wild forms of wolfberry grow just as strong and fast as cultivated varieties, but they often have much smaller fruits that can also be harvested in smaller numbers. In principle, all the fruits of the different varieties of wolfberry can be eaten fresh or dried. However, the varieties with smaller and rounder fruits are usually a little better suited to drying than particularly large-fruited varieties.

Particularly sweet varieties from Asia

The following cultivars of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) have become well known among fans of vitamin-rich goji berries:

  • Big&Sweet
  • Korean Big
  • Big Lifeberry
  • Sweet Lifeberry
  • instant success

The catchy names indicate that with these cultivars, attention was paid to the highest possible yield of fruits that were as large and sweet as possible. Last but not least, an attempt was made to reduce the aftertaste of the goji berries, which many people perceive as bitter and tart. In different varieties, the shape of the fruit can either tend towards a spherical shape or an elongated club shape. In terms of colour, the spectrum ranges from bright red berries to a bright mixed tone of red and orange.

Internationally recognized cultivars for commercial cultivation

In the meantime, well-known botanists have also bred varieties that naturally have very robust plant health and are therefore less susceptible to diseases. For example, powdery mildew is less common and no pesticides are needed for cultivation. While the following strains have less flowery names than their Asian competitors, they also allow for high yields and fast-flowering crops:

  • turgidus
  • L22
  • NQ1

tips

A pleasant side effect of some Goji berry cultivars is a reduced tendency to form underground runners. So even without a rhizome barrier worked into the soil, the whole garden is not immediately conquered by the strong-growing berry bushes.

Category:

Vegetable garden