1. Variety selection
When choosing a false pepper nightshade variety, the following factors must be taken into account:
- Purpose of cultivation: False pepper nightshade can be used as a food, ornamental or medicinal crop. For each purpose, there are different varieties of false pepper nightshade that have certain properties.
- Plant height: Different varieties of nightshade differ in plant height. There are varieties that reach a height of 30 cm, and varieties that reach a height of 1.5 m.
- Leaf Color: Nightshade leaves come in a variety of colors, including red, orange, yellow and green.
2. Soil preparation
False pepper nightshade is a light-loving and drought-resistant plant, so to grow it you need to prepare a sunny and well-drained place.
The soil for planting false pepper nightshade must be fertile and neutral or slightly alkaline.
3. Landing
False pepper nightshade can be grown either by seedlings or by sowing seeds in open ground.
When growing seedlings, the seeds of false pepper nightshade are sown in March-April in seedling boxes or containers. Shoots appear in 7-10 days. Seedlings are planted in separate pots or cups in the phase of 2-3 true leaves. Seedlings are planted in open ground in May-June, when the threat of frost has passed.
When sowing seeds in open ground, false pepper nightshade seeds are sown in May-June, when the soil warms up to +15 °C. The seeding depth is 1-2 cm.
4. Plant care
False pepper nightshade is an unpretentious plant, but to obtain good growth and development, the following measures must be taken:
- Watering: False pepper nightshade is a drought-resistant plant, so during the growing season it is necessary to water the plants only in hot and dry weather.
- Fertilizing: During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
- Weeding: It is necessary to weed regularly so that they do not choke the plants.
- Loosening: It is necessary to regularly loosen the soil around the plants to improve aeration and moisture permeability of the soil.
5. Harvest
False pepper nightshade begins to bloom in July-August. Flowering lasts about a month.
False pepper nightshade is harvested for decorative purposes. Plants are used to create hedges, borders and other decorative compositions.
Additional Tips
- To obtain an earlier harvest, false pepper nightshade can be grown as seedlings.
- To increase the decorativeness of the plant, you can shape the bush.
Some additional tips for growing nightshade:
- False pepper nightshade is a good honey plant.
- False pepper nightshade is used as a green manure crop