14 Best Nightshade Vegetables and Fruits to Grow in Pots and Garden

Sheri Dorn is a versatile homesteader and culinary artist with a strong focus on organic and heirloom gardening. Holding a Master's degree in Culinary Arts, she combines her love for cooking and gardening in a unique way. Sheri is an active contributor to online gardening communities and enjoys quality outdoor time with her family and pets.
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Check out our detailed list of the Best Nightshade Vegetables and Fruits to Grow in Pots and Gardens easily!

Here are the Best Nightshade Vegetables and Fruits to Grow in Pots and Gardens. They take little space, and you can grow them in containers on your patio or balcony.

Find How to Grow Solanum rantonnetii here


About Nightshade Vegetables and Fruits

Nightshade is a large group of plants from the Solanaceae family and includes toxic alkaloids, including solanine.

However, the fruits and vegetables in the same plant category available at the grocery store are safe to consume. This is due to the quantity of this poisonous compound being reduced to non-toxic levels when vegetables and fruits ripen.

Check out our list of edible plants that grow best in the shade here


Best Nightshade Vegetables and Fruits to Grow in Pots and Gardens

1. Potatoes

Botanical Name: Solanum tuberosum

Potatoes are a staple ingredient in many cuisines. It grows as underground tubers on herbaceous annuals and can be grown in home gardens.

Growing Tips: Find How to Grow Potatoes in Pots here

2. Tomatoes

thegardener

Botanical Name: Solanum Lycopersicum

This nightshade family member is botanically a fruit but is used as a vegetable in dishes worldwide. Tomatoes can be grown indoors if you lack outdoor space.

Growing Tips: Find Everything About Growing Tomatoes Indoors here

3. African Black Nightshade

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Botanical Name: Solanum scabrum

Also known as ‘Garden huckleberry,’ the shoots and leaves are edible. Berries are bitter and cannot be consumed.

Growing Tips: Propagate it from seeds in pots or plant it directly in the garden.

4. Bell Peppers

Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum Group

Also popular as capsicum or sweet pepper, this pepper cultivar from the nightshade family (Solanaceae) is planted for its mild, thick red, green, and yellow fruits.

Growing Tips: Learn Growing Bell Peppers in Pots and Containers here

5. Eggplant

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Botanical Name: Solanum melongena

This tropical, perennial vegetable is a medium-sized bush; nowadays, dwarf and compact cultivars are available for small spaces.

Growing Tips: Find How to Grow an Eggplant in a Pot here

6. African Eggplant

Botanical Name: Solanum aethiopicum

Also known as Ethiopian nightshade and bitter tomato, this vegetable is a staple in African dishes. It can be consumed in raw and cooked rice, meat, and vegetable cuisines.

Growing Tips: Grow African eggplant in full sun and well-draining soil

7. Tomatillos

oldworldgardenfarms

Botanical Name: Physalis philadelphica

This herbaceous perennial is treated like its relative, the tomato. It is an essential ingredient of many Mexican salsas.

Growing Tips: Grow this vegetable in well-draining, fertile soil under full sun.

8. Hot Peppers

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Botanical Name: Capsicum frutescens

Hot peppers have extensive use in various dishes; this short living perennial in tropical and subtropical areas needs care in winter. Some types are grown as perennial in zones 7-8.

Growing Tips: Find How To Grow Chili Peppers In Pots here

9. Goji Berries

Botanical Name: Lycium barbarum

Goji berries are also known as wolfberry; it is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The fruits appear as orange-red berries.

Growing Tips: Learn How to Grow Goji Berries here

10. Cape Gooseberry

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Botanical Name: Physalis peruviana

Native to Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru, this small orange berry has a paper-like husk. The fruit is used in pies, sauces, and preserves in mild climates.

Growing Tips: Grow cape gooseberry in well-draining, highly-fertile soil.

11. Pepino Melon

Botanical Name: Solanum muricatum

This fruit is related to the nightshade family; it is not a melon but got a resemblance. It can be eaten fresh and raw or added to salads.

Growing tips: Grow Pepino melon from seeds or cuttings; the plant will bear fruits within 4-6 months after planting.

12. Rocoto Pepper

Botanical Name: Capsicum pubescens

Rocoto Pepper is a pear or apple-shaped pepper that looks like a small bell pepper. However, this pepper is packed with an intense level of heat and delicious flavor.

Growing tips: This super hot pepper can thrive well in cooler temperatures and loves a temperature range of 45-60˚F or 7-15°C. You can also grow in partial shade in warmer zones or grow in a greenhouse in winter.

13. Tamarillo

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Botanical Name: Solanum betaceum

Tamarillo is native to South America and has grown everywhere now. This reddish edible fruit is tangy and sweet with a complex and bold taste. The taste can be compared to guava, passion fruit, kiwifruit, or tomato.

Growing tips: Remember to grow this fruit in a sunny spot and rich, well-draining soil with a pH range of 5.8-7. Dig in manure when planting this fruit and feed regularly. 

14. Blueberries

Botanical Name: Vaccinium meridionale

Blueberries do not exactly come under the nightshade family, but they contain solanine, like the plants in nightshade do. The small, round, blue-purple berries are usually eaten fresh or enjoyed frozen.

Growing tips: Blueberries can grow best in full sunlight and well-draining soil and tolerate partial shade. However, too much shade can cause lesser fruits and blooms. Sprinkle some coffee grounds around the base of the plant to make the berries taste sweeter. 

Find out the best fast-growing fall vegetables for pots here

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