Gogi Berries

This year I've grown some Gogi Berry plants; also known as the Favorite Food of Herbivores. I bought three as plants, since growing Goji Berries from seed is rather challenging. Little did I know that every kind of plant eating creature...rats, rabbits, deer, gophers, moles, voles...find the Goji Berry leaves immensely delectable.
The plants have all always been inside a fence. They have been the only item eaten inside that eight foot, chicken wire reinforced at the bottom, EVERY-RABBIT-REPELLENT-KNOWN-TO-THIS-WOMAN fence. First elevating the plants, then wrapping them in a second layer of wire have not been a deterrent to the determined hebivores. I have one plant left, which despite being sheared three times is determinedly chugging along.

The herbivores have excellent taste. The fruit of the Gogi Berry plant, when dried and eaten like fruit candy (yum!), has amazing anti-oxidant and longevity promoting properties. It is possible to consume too much, so please limit yourself to a handful a day if you want to try the dried berries. They are available at any health food store.

You can attempt to grow your own plant from the health food store dried berries. The seeds must be left in the dried berries until you are ready to start them. I suggest early spring. Place the berries in a damp paper towel for three days, then separate out the seeds, they are tiny. Your sprout rate will be low, about 25-30%. Damping off of the seeds is a real possibility, make certain that your sanitation is immaculate. The starts like shade, filtered light; too much light will kill them.
When they are 4" tall with strong stems transplant to pots and place outside in dappled light. I suggest that if you want three plants, start with twelve. Protect from every creature that grazes. The plant will overwinter in zone 7, possible zone 6 if protected, and will produce the coveted berries in the second the third year. Eventually you will have a six foot bush, so allow plenty of room.