African Nightshade Seeds

African Nightshade Seeds

Description:

African nightshade is propagated from seeds. It performs well in a varying degree of climatic conditions but grows best within cool, high-moisture environments in both medium and high altitudes. Shady conditions cause a reduction in total plant weight, as well as leaf yield. Though African nightshade can tolerate shade, growth is better when the plant is exposed to full sunlight. For adequate growth of African nightshades, annual rainfall of approximately 500–1200 mm is necessary, African nightshades grow in a variety of soils but require large amounts of nutrients and are best adjusted to soils with high nitrogen, phosphorus and are rich in organic matter. Nitrogen fertilizer increases leaf yields 1.5-2.5 fold. Sandy loam to friable clay soils with a pH of 6.0-6.5 is appropriate Plant heights, leaf numbers, and area, as well as leaf yields, increase when a higher volume of phosphorus fertilizer is used.

Though African nightshades are not drought tolerant, procedures can be done to help retain moisture such as mulching with tall grass. Selected breeding can be useful as a method for diversity development, with excellent potential, so long as the variety is preserved and utilized. African nightshade is ready for harvest 4 weeks past transplanting. Picking is done in weekly intervals and the African nightshade can be sun-dried on banana leaves post-harvest as a means of preservation. Comparing African nightshade to other high-value and high-yielding horticultural crops, it produces low leaf yields and is considered uneconomical, however, it is in high demand in some areas for its health, nutritional, and medicinal benefits.