Anyone got any experience of growing these please?

I've heard they need special propagation methods (whatever that means!) but I can't find what these methods are. Also what type fo soil do they need for propagation and then grow normally

Along with many health benefits, they are supposed to help general wellbeing in all major organs. Does anyone know anything about this, my partner has had a kidney transplant and she has been told not to eat grapefruit so I'm a little vary

Thanks

Some cultivars can tolerate a little shade and heat.
Primarily they want acidic soils, as most berries do.
They are usually propagated by seeds.
Quite easy to take care of. The pests seems to ignore them.

hi nick

"Goji" which is also known as wolfberry, chinese lycium or boxthorn or Lycium barbarum is a very vigorous plant, which grows very easily from seed. It does very well in cool temperate and sub tropical regions, and has naturalised in many parts of Australia, including Tasmania. You should have no trouble growing it in the UK.

Gou Zi (or "Goji" as it's being marketed) has been part of Oriental herbal Medicine for a long time. It is used in cases of Liver blood deficiency and is extremely beneficial in helping build the blood. It helps improve the vision, of which in Oriental Medicine is related to the liver. It helps those who use the computer or strain their eyes a lot. As excessive computer use can cause liver blood deficiency.

It is always best to see a Oriental Medicine practitioner to receive the right balance of herbal medicine. Especially with your wife's condition.
Nothing is a cure all. The underlying cause of your wife condition needs to be properly diagnosed by a Oriental Medicine practitioner, and the appropriate herbal medicine prescribed.

cheers
Fern

Thanks for the great info Fern

I've been looking around on google and found this:-

These unique polysaccharides found in goji berries are often referred to as "Master Molecules". It is believed that they control and command some of the most important immune defense systems in the body. Himalayan and Tibetan goji berry's unique characteristic of spectral peaks can vary from type to type. It is believed that you are able to define one goji berry's geographic origin from another by examining these peaks.

http://www.buygojiberriesonline.co.uk/goji-scientific-research.html

So I may have to look into this more as after a Kidney transplant your immune system is supressed which is all part of the anti-rejection treatment - so need to be very careful.

But there are other side affects of having a transplant that from what you are saying may be helped by Goji berries. More research needed I think but I can look on the links you've posted

Thanks again

Nick

hi nick

yes, of course the fruit differs as to the area it's grown. It also differs as to when it is picked, when the flowers were pollinated, what the weather was like that year etc. That's the same with all fruit (and any plants for that matter). For instance, with varieties of apples; the "Ozark Gold" variety off the same tree was very different this year, than it was last year. And so was the "MacIntosh" and the "Devonshire Quarrenden" etc.
There is a lot that influences the chemical composition of the fruit; weather variations, the soil, the microclimate (just as much as the mesoclimate).

What you've quoted is just marketing from those who want to sell you their "special" Goji berries. Goodness! There is so many valuable medicinal plants. All with their differing properties. And all differ as to where they're grown, seasonal differences and how they're harvested and stored. Lycium barbarum is a good medicinal fruit, but for goodness sake, don't buy into their marketing that only their special Himalayan and Tibetan Goji berries have "the unique quality".
Qualified Oriental Medicine practitioners have studied for 5 (plus) years. They know their medicine far more thoroughly than some company who's "discovered" a medicinal plant, and are packaging it as a cure all.
For goodness sake, make sure that your wife sees a qualified Oriental Medicine practitioner/ Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor.

By the way dried Lycium Barbarum are very strong, and in my opinion, I don't think your wife should be ingesting too many of them. I'd more say things like nettle and bone marrow soup. But it really is best that she sees a local Oriental Medicine practitioner.

In the mean time, see how the Lycium Barbarum grows in the different microclimates in your garden. See how it differs from year to year, and from when you harvest it, and how much water and nutrients it receives etc. And have a look at it's polysaccharides and spectral peaks from each harvest.

cheers
Fern