- Why should the black nightshade be fought?
- How to combat black nightshade?
- What makes the seeds so "dangerous"?
The black nightshade (bot. Solanum nigrum) belongs to the nightshade family, like the potato or the popular tomato. Unlike these, the black nightshade is not a crop, but is more commonly referred to as a weed.
Black nightshade is not very popular
Why should the black nightshade be fought?
All nightshade plants are considered poisonous, and the black nightshade is no exception. However, the toxicity of the different parts of the plant is different and varies with the lifespan or maturity of the plant. In some areas, the ripe berries are considered edible and even quite tasty.
Because eating the herb or unripe berries can be fatal to small children or pets, black nightshade should be controlled at all costs. Not for nothing are the nicknames of the Solanum nigrum "Sautod" and "Hühnertod".
How to combat black nightshade?
The best way to combat black nightshade in the garden is to uproot it early. As an annual herb, it usually does not sprout again the next year. To do this, however, you must remove it before flowering, otherwise it may sprout itself.
Chemical weed killers are not very helpful in controlling black nightshade. If possible, they should not be used in the home garden. When used, they also attack botanically related plants such as potatoes or tomatoes.
What makes the seeds so "dangerous"?
On the one hand, the seeds in the fruits of the black nightshade are considered to be very poisonous. So they should not be eaten. On the other hand, the seeds can germinate for a very long time if they are in the ground.
It can take up to 40 years for new plants to grow from the seeds. Even if you have successfully banished the black nightshade from your garden, you should regularly check whether young plants are growing back.
The essentials in brief:
- is widely considered toxic
- especially dangerous for children and pets
- Seeds germinate for an extremely long time
- be sure to fight before seed ripening
tips
If you want to remove a lot of black nightshade, you can also mow the plants before flowering instead of uprooting them.