Useful Plants in the Nightshade Family and How to Grow Them at Home

The nightshade family, or Solanaceae family, is a group of plants that contains many a familiar culinary friend as well as a couple of surprises. Tomatoes, eggplant, and white potatoes all belong to the same family, as well as all varieties of the bell and hot peppers.

You may not know that goji berries, tomatillos, ground cherries (Physalis spp), and even tobacco (Nicotiana spp) also belong to the nightshade family!

Just because a plant is in the nightshade family does not mean that it is edible. Some plants in this family are poisonous and outright deadly. Stick to the ones you know and others that are cleared for consumption.

Well, with the hair-raising bit behind us, let’s look at some of the most delicious, nutritious, and healthful plants in the nightshade family and find out just how easy it is to grow a few of them for yourself.

Tomatoes

Source: wuestenigel/Flickr

People say that homegrown tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicum) are so much better than store-bought for a reason. Many of the tomatoes we buy in supermarkets have been picked while still green and have ripened off the vine to help with shipping. When you pick from your garden, the tomatoes are plump, sweet, and juicy from the sun’s rays.

As well as being delicious and versatile, tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, K1, B9, and potassium. They are also rich in several antioxidants.

If you are looking to grow tomatoes for yourself, make sure that you pick a variety, whether seed or plant, that is suitable to your growing region. Choose a sunny spot for your plants with well-draining, fertile soil, and leave about 2 feet of growing space between plants. Some tomato varieties are well suited for container gardens.

If you have picked an indeterminate variety of tomato, you will need to stake the tomato so that it has something to grow up. Tie the tomato plant up as it grows to help Support its weight. As the plant grows, you need to prune off the suckers. These suckers grow in the elbow of the main stem and the branches. Plucking these off will allow more energy to reach the tomato-growing branches.

Peppers

Source: GrowVeg/YouTube

Growing bell peppers (Capsicum spp) for salads and pizza toppings and hot peppers for making hot sauces and salsas is very rewarding. Bell peppers are one of the best sources of vitamin C, especially the yellow kind.

Choose a spot for your pepper plants that gets between 5-8 hours of full sun, and wait until the temperature is constantly in the 60s (Fahrenheit) before planting. Give each plant a square foot of growing space and make sure the soil is loose and rich in compost. Mulch your plants to help keep the soil moist.

Goji Berries

Source: Urban Farmer Curtis Stone/YouTube

If you are looking to plant something a little more unusual, how about trying to grow a goji berry bush? Goji berries (Lycium barbarum) have been touted as a superfood for their incredible nutrient profile. Goji berries contain all of the essential amino acids and are packed with vitamin C, fiber, iron, calcium, zinc, and selenium. They are also high in antioxidants.

This is a cool tolerant perennial plant that is hardy to zones 5-9 and is surprisingly easy to grow. You can grow these plants as a bush or even train them up a trellis. Finding bare-root goji plants in early spring when the plants are dormant is the easiest way forward. You can plant from seed, but it will take about three years before you see any harvest. Plant your goji berry plant in a sunny spot and water it in well. They do tend to spread, so be prepared.

Eggplant

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is another fine member of the nightshade family. Eggplant is high in manganese, folate, potassium, and vitamins K and C. This delicious fruit is also rich in antioxidants.

Eggplant may be started from seed indoors about eight weeks before the last frost date, or you may buy starts from your local nursery. You need to wait until temperatures are consistently in the 70s (Fahrenheit) before planting out your starts in a sunny spot. Make sure the soil is rich in organic matter and is well-draining. You can put a stake by each plant and tie the plants up as it gets taller. They are not vining, but heavy fruits can pull the plants over. Give your plants a good mulch to help keep moisture in the soil.

Do your research before consuming herbs or plants for medicinal purposes, and consult a medical professional. It is thought that even eating common nightshades like tomatoes and white potatoes can have adverse effects on some people, especially those with certain bowl and digestion issues. Do your research and check with a medical professional if you have questions. 

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