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Black Nightshade in veg patch

JoolieLJoolieL Posts: 5
Hi, we have a small domestic veg patch with potatoes, courgettes, carrots, tomatoes etc
This year we have had what i thought were some extra potato plants pop up in parts where I wasn't expecting potatoes.
Today I was stood where I could see them and the original potato plants and I realised they were different, and plantnet revealed that they were black nightshade.
I read mixed things about them being edible and about them being poisonous.
We have young children so I didn't want to risk it and pulled them up, plus I couldn't get to other plants.
I think it was good timing as no berries seemed to have dropped.
I have no idea where they came from, there were about 20 dotted around.
So my questions are - where could they have come from? And - are they poisonous/ can they hurt us?
I did get some on my arm and it's itching but I don't know if that's just psychosomatic.
Many thanks
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Posts

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    edited August 2023
    The plant is actually an edible member of the nightshade family! However, unless you are really positive of your id I would not risk it myself. Even if it was something more poisonous, just touching it should not cause any problems.
    Source could be bird droppings. It is quite a common wild flower in places.
    The Nightshade we get here is Enchanter's Nightshade which is from a different family altogether.
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