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A Very Old/New Food to Grow
Food fads come and go. Remember TV dinners and Spam of the 50's, organics and granola of the 60's, the Atkins diet and fondues of the 70's, oat bran muffins and sushi of the 80's, Oscar Meyers Lunchables of the 90's, energy drinks and gluten-free of 2000, and omega-3s and probiotics of today? Whoops! Almost forgot chocolate covered bacon.
One of the "new" foods that has caught my interest is the wolfberry, also known as the goji berry. I buy the dried berries at the store and nibble them, add them to waffle, pancake, or muffin batters, or throw a handful into a morning smoothie. The berries have a sweet/sour, somewhat nutty flavor.
Reported to be a "super food", the goji berry is said to be an antioxidant. There are published studies reporting possible benefits in some animal studies that the goji berry is helpful against cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. The Chinese have touted the goji berry for centuries for a multitude of health benefits. Various other claims of health are many.
The goji berry plant, Lycium barbarum, is a species of boxthorn found in the Solanaceae family, and is a native of southeast Europe and Asia. L. barbarum produces a bright red-orange, raisin-size, edible berry, which ripens in late summer into early fall.
I have been buying these health-laden, relative expensive jewels for about two years now. So imagine my surprise when I saw the plant was featured in a number of recently received seed catalogs. We're sending for two plants!
The plant does well in USDA zones 6b through 9b, likes full sun and good drainage. The plant is self-fertile, and will grow to eight to ten feet tall. However, apparently it likes to be pruned to about a five foot height. There are no reports of pests or diseases and it is draught tolerant once established. Protection is recommended against strong sun during the hottest part of the day in warm climates. One plant is said to yield up to one quart of berries per season. Mmmmmm. Goji berry jam! We shall see.
2-17-14
