SOLANUM SCABRUM SEEDS

Solanum scabrum

One of the many poorly classified members of the Morelloid clade of the Solanum genus, and often listed as S. melanocerasum. Very probably African in origin. Perhaps marginally edible, but flavor ranges from imperceptible to mildly unpleasant. Among the species marketed as “garden huckleberry", but we would not recommend this particular selection for food.

Sturdy plants can grow to just over 2' and do not require support. Generous clusters of big firm black berries are persistent, to the degree they actually make fine “floral" material. At no point did the berries seem ripe in the field, and I cut entire clusters to bring indoors in late autumn of 2022, thinking they would soften or sweeten or something. Nope. Those berries just sat around like wax fruit for weeks on end, eventually drying and shriveling into little black rocks. I packed up those little rocks like any other seed and finally dug them out for testing this spring. Every single seed collected from the crushed dried berries germinated.

Instead of seeds you will receive whole dried berries. These berries are very hard and they will stain anything they come into contact with. Best to very gently crush them within the packet or separate paper envelope using a mallet. Individual seeds will be stained black but are easily identified if you wish to sow individual seeds directly into flats. The entirety of the crushed berries with seeds may be sprinkled onto and pressed into a pot of moist soil and covered with a fine layer of vermiculite. Mist generously and cover with plastic to maintain moisture and temperature. Kept consistently warm and moist in bright light seeds germinate within days. Prick out seedlings with true leaves to grow on in individual cells or 3" pots in bright light. Harden off before transplanting into warm soil in full sun after all danger of frost has passed.

Plants grow quickly given warm temperatures. Tolerates very hot dry weather once established. Berries are abundant and have great potential for use as a dye.

Packet contains at least 10 berries which will collectively contain around 100 seeds.