Goji-Wolfberry Plant Pruning Guide
Generally
it is best to let the first year of growth go unpruned. This will result in
more fruit the first year. In the spring, pick the strongest and most upright
stem for training, either on a trellis or to become a stand-alone plant as
illustrated below. If using a trellis approach, prune as for grapes. Vines will
get up to 15 feet long. Cutting back the vines to 4-5 feet long the spring
after first planting will result in maximum new growth. Nearly all fruit
develops on first year growth. Maximizing first year growth reduces the amount
of thorns.
No plant supports are required for the pruning procedures outlined below.
First Year
Allow plants to grow unpruned. This will result in more fruit the first year and result in stronger roots.
Second Year
If you don’t mind getting on your knees to pick fruit, cut off all stems early in the spring. This will result in many more first year stems and lots of fruit, but it will come on later in the summer and you will need to bend over to pick the fruit.
Our preferred method is to leave the largest healthy stem for a main trunk. Remove any other shoots. This will result in very little fruit the second year. When the main stem reaches about 16 inches, trim off the tip to promote the growth of side branches. During the summer, remove any new shoots coming out from the main stem that are growing at more than a 45 degree angle from the stem. Leave 3-5 side shoots that are growing at less than a 45-degree angle from the stem. These become lateral branches and will produce some fruit. Leave a large, upward growing shoot near where the tip of the main stem was cut off. This will be the third year main stem.
Third Year
Winter pruning can be used to clean out unwanted stems. Summer pruning is a must to control structure and canopy growth. New shoots proliferate at the points where large branches have been removed. This new growth is where most fruit will develop. New shoots around the base of the plant should all be removed. They can be used as vegetables. Also, root sprouts, which appear in the ground around the plant, should be pulled out and used as a vegetable or can be dug up and replanted elsewhere. If not removed, these root sprouts can be very invasive.
For the rest of the plant, follow the greater than, less than, 45 degree angle rule. If fruiting stems are profuse, some may be removed to let in more light. The long-term goal is to have a nicely shaped plant about six feet tall, with a three-foot diameter canopy. Trim canopy stems to keep a foot or more clearance between the canopy and the ground.
Below are illustrated three potential five-year old plant models.
No plant supports are required for the pruning procedures outlined below.
First Year
Allow plants to grow unpruned. This will result in more fruit the first year and result in stronger roots.
Second Year
If you don’t mind getting on your knees to pick fruit, cut off all stems early in the spring. This will result in many more first year stems and lots of fruit, but it will come on later in the summer and you will need to bend over to pick the fruit.
Our preferred method is to leave the largest healthy stem for a main trunk. Remove any other shoots. This will result in very little fruit the second year. When the main stem reaches about 16 inches, trim off the tip to promote the growth of side branches. During the summer, remove any new shoots coming out from the main stem that are growing at more than a 45 degree angle from the stem. Leave 3-5 side shoots that are growing at less than a 45-degree angle from the stem. These become lateral branches and will produce some fruit. Leave a large, upward growing shoot near where the tip of the main stem was cut off. This will be the third year main stem.
Third Year
Winter pruning can be used to clean out unwanted stems. Summer pruning is a must to control structure and canopy growth. New shoots proliferate at the points where large branches have been removed. This new growth is where most fruit will develop. New shoots around the base of the plant should all be removed. They can be used as vegetables. Also, root sprouts, which appear in the ground around the plant, should be pulled out and used as a vegetable or can be dug up and replanted elsewhere. If not removed, these root sprouts can be very invasive.
For the rest of the plant, follow the greater than, less than, 45 degree angle rule. If fruiting stems are profuse, some may be removed to let in more light. The long-term goal is to have a nicely shaped plant about six feet tall, with a three-foot diameter canopy. Trim canopy stems to keep a foot or more clearance between the canopy and the ground.
Below are illustrated three potential five-year old plant models.
