Solanum nigrum is panicum miliaceum, with a height of 0.25- 1 m, green or purple stems, oval leaves, a length of about 2.5- 10 cm, a width of about 1.5-5.5 cm, wavy teeth, scorpion-tailed flowers and spherical berries. The fruit of wild Solanum nigrum is non-toxic and edible. Solanum nigrum is cold, bitter and slightly sweet. Berries and leaves are edible, but leaves contain a lot of alkaloids and need to be treated, that is, cooked before eating.

Solanum nigrum fruit is called black sweet in Zhoukou, Henan, and black pomegranate in Cangzhou, Hebei. It looks like a grape, so it is also called a wild grape.

Growth habit of Solanum nigrum

The suitable temperature for growth is 22-30℃, and the suitable temperature for flowering and seed-setting period is 15-20℃, at which time the seed-setting rate is high. The requirements for soil are not strict, and it grows well in loam with rich organic matter and strong water and fertility conservation, but it lacks organic matter and has poor aeration. The root system is underdeveloped, the plant growth is weak, and the commercialization is poor. The suitable soil pH is 5.5-6.5.

It is difficult to grow in high temperature and high humidity open field in summer and autumn, and the growth in open field is slow in winter and spring. Young shoots are prone to fiber aging and poor commercialization. Therefore, in order to meet the market demand, it can be cultivated in protected areas all the year round.