Gogi Berries

[jo68]

has anyone grown Goji berries?

i was going to grow some last year but i dont know what they taste like all i know is that they are good for you and quite easy to grow but i didnt want to grow them if they taste horrid


jo x

[lancashire lass]

I've heard of them but never tasted or grown them, but there was some interesting facts in this wikipedia link

Apparently they are part of the same family of Solanaceae as deadly nightshade, tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco etc. They can grow 1-3 metres (I suppose that depends on variety), and the berries are considered highly nutritious, and even leaves are used in teas, but, anyone taking medication such as Warfarin should beware and especially of how much they consume. The berries apparently are prone to insect damage and often sprayed with insecticide which can still be present in the imported (dried) fruits.

[jo68]

thanks LL very interesting didnt know they were called wolf berries

i would love to taste them before i grow some i only heard of them last year they were selling the plant on a shopping channel

jo x

[ali]

You can buy them from health food shops - I had some given to me by a neighbour who didn't like them at all, think they were from Holland and barrett.
They have a sort of dry, slightly sweet taste, take a bit of chewing ! there is a strange aftertaste I'm not keen on , I just kept a glass of water on standby for when I'd swallowed the last mouthful

[morph]

you can also by them in supermarkets (dried)

[jo68]

i bought myself a goji berry bush so i hope i like them if i dont then i think the chooks will


jo x

[Ryan]

Never heard of them before - see, I learn everything to do with chickens and strange berries now!!

[blackie_fen]

I was wondering about growing these, but then I read the blurb in the Suttons catalogue which said they have a 'mild liquorice flavour'.

I hate liquorice

But I'm sure the chooks will go mad for them if you don't like them

[lancashire lass]

I've just remembered I'd read something about goji berry plants that was raising some concern on a gardening forum. I'm sure if the plant has been sourced properly it won't be a problem, but here is the defra link that had everyone thinking twice about growing them http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/import/lycium.pdf

[jo68]

thanks for that, i think mine will be ok although it doesnt say on the lable where it came from it just says that it is a focus brand (where i got it from) so fingers crossed its ok as i bought it last month


jo x

[firestorm]

Hi everyone,
I quite like Goji berries, but soak them before using. If you watched 'grow your own dr-ugs' there was a recipe for chicken soup with goji berries that works quite well. They do seem to give you a boost during the day too.

[Mallard]

The dried berries are not false teeth friendly!
The health benefits come from the soil they're grown in, so it's John Innes versus Tibetan yak fueled muck!
Please don't ever take me seriously!

[smiler48]

My dad bought a goji berry plant to climb over his arch, it is growing very fast indeed, don't know what the berries will be like til they grow though.