Solanum tarderemotum
Solanum tarderemotum
Safety & Hazards
Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most species in this genus also contain toxic alkaloids. Whilst these alkaloids can make the plant useful in treaing a range of medical conditions, they can also cause problems such as nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weakness and respiratory depression[1]. Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[PFAF].
Cultivation Details
Prefers organic-rich soils that are high in nitrogen and phosphorus[2]. It is reported to grow wild in disturbed areas or as a weed on agricultural land, probably often as escapes from cultivation[2]. Initial seedling growth is rapid. Flowering starts when plants are about 6 weeks old, but harvesting of leaves can continue thereafter[2]. Young shoots 10 - 15cm long are picked, starting 3 - 4 weeks after transplanting or 5 - 6 weeks after sowing. The preferred harvest method is ratoon cropping where the apical shoot is picked at the first harvest, allowing side shoots to grow. Subsequent harvests are at intervals of 1 - 2 weeks for the following 8 - 12 weeks[2]. The harvest period for a rainy season crop without additional fertilizing is 4 - 6 weeks, but a well-managed crop may be harvested for up to 4 months[2]. Regular harvesting of young shoots causes a prolonged vegetative period, whereas undisturbed plants may flower 8 weeks after seedling emergence[2]. Average yields of 12 - 20 tonnes per hectare can be achieved, but these can be increased to 80 tonnes if the crop is fed and irrigated[2]. When, after several months of harvesting, the crop comes to its end, the farmers collect the fruits that have dropped on the ground for extraction of seeds for the next season[2].
Propagation
Seed - germination normally takes place in 5 - 7 days[2]. It is common practice to sow seeds in a nursery and transplant the seedlings when they are 10 - 15cm tall and have at least 5 true leaves. Many growers mix the tiny seeds with fine soil, ash or dried manure before sowing. Nursery beds are mulched and irrigated daily. Well-fermented farmyard manure is incorporated into the plant beds whenever available because this gives better results than fertilizers only[2]. The seeds can remain viable for several years when kept dry and cool[2]. Germination can sometimes be problematic because of low vigour caused by improper seed extraction and therefore inadequate removal of sugars and germination inhibitors present in the fruit. Other reasons for problematic germination are that seeds are not dried and stored properly, or that the seed is dormant[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Solanum+tarderemotum>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Poisonous Plants of North Carolina — http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm ↩︎An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
- [2]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎