- Different types of nightshade
- The choice of location and the right soil
- Water and fertilize properly
The care of the nightshade (bot. Solanum) is not described in a few words, after all this is a plant genus, not a single species or variety. Solanum belongs to the large nightshade family (bot. Solanaceae).
The nightshade family is large, but they all need water and sun
Different types of nightshade
The genus Solanum includes around 1400 species, some of which are very different, including well-known crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants and lesser-known crops such as the tamarillo. Other species are cultivated as ornamentals, such as summer jasmine (bot. Solanum jasminoides or Solanum laxum) and bittersweet nightshade (bot. Solanum dulcamara). The black nightshade, on the other hand, is considered a weed.
The choice of location and the right soil
The different nightshades can be found almost all over the world. They have adapted to the conditions and climate of the respective region. Many of them love the warmth and do well in the conservatory. The summer jasmine also feels very comfortable on the terrace or in the garden in summer, provided it is protected from rain and wind.
Slightly moist but still loose soil is well suited for planting a nightshade. However, the nutrient requirement is quite high. If the soil is not humic enough, you should enrich it with a portion of well-rotted manure or mature compost. You can work in gravel, clay granules and/or sand for loosening and drainage. At the same time you avoid the formation of waterlogging.
Water and fertilize properly
As plants with high nutrient requirements, nightshade should be fertilized regularly. The type of fertilizer depends on the use. Only use special fertilizers for useful plants (e.g. tomato fertilizer), for other species commercial liquid fertilizers are sufficient. Equally important is regular watering, even daily in summer.
The essentials in brief:
- Location: preferably warm and sunny, possibly also slightly shady
- Soil: rich in nutrients, loose and permeable
- Space requirements: very individual
- Climbing plants need climbing aids
- often not hardy
- many species poisonous!
tips
Most species of the genus "Nightshade" are considered to be more or less poisonous. You should therefore think carefully about planting in the family garden.