Nightshades, part of the Solanaceae family, are flowering plants that were named because that frequently grow in shaded areas and some plants in this family flower at night. Some common nightshades that are harvested as food include potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Some of the plants in this family can also be toxic. Learn more from our articles below.
Potatoes are a great addition to your home garden if you’re willing to put in a little extra work. Using seed pieces, you can grow a variety of types in hilled rows or raised beds. They are one of the first vegetables to plant in the spring, and yield a great harvest come fall.
Green, yellow, red…sweet or knock your socks off spicy — the numerous pepper choices makes them a great garden plant. Start seeds indoors in early spring, moving them outside when the weather cooperates. They have little trouble with insect pests and make great companion plants.
Black spots typically occur on tomato leaves due to diseases — blight, canker, and leaf spot mainly. Try to use good gardening practices to prevent the problems from happening. When diseases show up remove the diseases tissue and treat plants with a fungicide to prevent spread.
Tomatoes are annual plants that complete their entire life cycle in one growing season. All types — cherry, roma, heirloom, beefsteak — follow the same stages. Seeds germinate, leaves and roots form, the plants flower, and if pollinated, fruits develop and mature.
Tomatoes are the most common garden plant, for good reason. With many options to choose from you can grow your own Beefsteak, Roma, cherry tomatoes, or heirloom varieties. With a long growing season, either start seeds indoors in early spring or purchase starter plants for your garden. Plants love lots of sun, consistent water, and regular doses of fertilizer.
Due to their long growing season, tomatoes are usually planted indoors and then juvenile plants are transplanted to the garden. When the transplants have a strong sturdy stem, and the chance of spring frost has passed they can be moved to the garden. Acclimate plants to outdoor temperatures for about a week and then transplant them in the garden into holes twice the size of their root ball.