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African Nightshade
Scientific name:
Solanum villosum
Order/Family:
Solanaceae
Local names:
Mnavu (Kiswahili), managu (Kikuyu), namaska (Luhya). osuga (Luo), isoiyot (Kipsigis), kitulu (Kamba), ormomoi (Maa), ndunda (Taita), nsugga (Luganda)
Importance:
high
Common names:
Black nightshade / Narrow-leaved nightshade
Pests and Diseases (clicking takes you to the pest and disease pages):
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 Geographical distribution indicated in red
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General Information on African NightshadesAgronomic AspectsInformation on Pests and DiseasesInformation Source Links
Some Solanum varieties are prefered for their bitter taste while others are considered 'sweet', particularly after being boiled and the water discarded. The raw leaves contain 4% protein, 6% carbohydrates and are moderately high in vitamin C. The leaves are eaten as a cooked vegetable, often mixed with other vegetables and the fresh fruit is also consumed.
Solanum species that are fond in Kenyan vegetable gardens include S. macrocarpon, S. scabrun, S. villosum.
Solanum plays an important role in traditional medicine in Africa and elsewhere, but the leaves are considered poisonous in some areas of the world so one should be careful about obtaining seeds for planting.
Climatic conditions, soil and water management
African nightshades can grow on a wide range of soil types but do not tolerate drought (AVRDC 2003). African nightshades do well in organic plots. Propagation and planting
Plants are propagated from seeds. Seeds are marketed by Simlaw Seeds in Nairobi under the name Black Nightshade in 25 gram packets and another source with particularly large, tasty leaves is available from SACRED Africa, Bugoma, Western Kenya. The soil in the nursery should be loosened and enriched with decomposed manure. Seeds should be mixed with sand and/or ash for uniform sowing. Sow the mixture thinly, either by broadcasting or in rows, 15-20 cm apart and cover with a fine layer of soil. After sowing, the bed should be mulched with tall grass or a similar material to retain moisture. This mulch can be removed once the plants are 3 cm. Transplant when seedlings have six true leaves and are 10-15 cm tall. The spacing should be 20 cm in the row by 40 cm between the rows.
Husbandry
Nightshades require large amounts of nutrients, and therefore do well in soils that are rich in organic matter. They also grow well on land covered with ash from recently burned vegetation (AVRDC 2003). Apply organic manure where possible. Harvesting
The crop is ready for harvest four weeks from transplanting. The stems are cut approximately 15cm above the ground. This allows new side shoots to develop. Pickings are done at weekly intervals. Picking should be done early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The flowers should be removed before the crop is taken to market. Preservation is done by sun-drying. The leaves may be dried and stored for up to one year though this practice greatly reduces the nutritive value and changes the texture.
Aphids
Aphids are a major pest, causing leaves to curl and become unattractive to customers.
For more information on aphids click here
Spider mites
Leaves and shoots can be affected by mites resulting in deformed growth and reduced productivity (Ouma M.A).
More information on spider mites will follow.
Diseases are similar to those of Solanaceae family (e.g. peppers, potatoes and tomatoes), thus rotating with other crops from different family like amaranth is essential.
In areas with a high humidity, wider plant spacing should be used (AVRDC, 2003).
Early blight
For more information on early blight click here.
- AVRDC, International Cooperator's Guide (2003). Narrow-leaved Nightshade. www.avrdc.org/LC/indigenous/svillosum.pdf
- FORMAT: Forum for Organic Resource Management and Agricultural Technologies. www.formatkenya.org/ormbook/Chapters/chapter17.htm
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kenya (2000). Local and export vegetables growing manual. Reprinted by Agricultural Information Resource Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Ouma, M.A. Indigenous vegetable production and utilization in Suba district, Kenya: Improving health, unlocking the wealth in Suba district. BioVision - T.T.U, ICIPE. Unpublished.
