Kriechende Jaltomate

Cultivation Break

Season Overview

Description

The creeping nightshade tomato or creeping nightshade berry (Jaltomata procumbens) is a plant species from the genus Jaltomata in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The fruits of Jaltomata procumbens are occasionally used as fruit. It is perennial but not hardy (up to max. +5 degrees Celsius). The species is widespread in Mexico and Central America up to the Andes. It often grows on slopes, on arable land, in scrubland and in subtropical to temperate mountain regions. The habitats are at altitudes between 1000 and 2900 meters in open, sunny to semi-shady places. Jaltomata procumbens are up to 2 m tall, herbaceous, broadly spreading plants with a hollow, green and hairless to tomentose stem. When the trichomes dry out, they turn white. The yellow-green leaves are ovate, with entire margins or slightly wavy-toothed. They are pointed at the tip, the base is blunt or narrowed. The upper side of the leaves is hairless, with only a few trichomes on the veins. The leaf stalks are up to 5 cm long, often winged due to the narrow leaf base. The corymbose inflorescences are borne on a slightly hairy, unbranched inflorescence stalk. The flowers are usually bent backwards. The yellow to greenish-white corolla often has greenish dots and measures 10 to 15 mm in diameter. The petals are fused to about half their length and the resulting corolla lobes are triangular or blunt. On the first day of flowering the anthers are closed, they only open on the second day, at the same time the stamens also elongate (pre-feminine). The flowering period is from May to October. The edible fruit is a mucilaginous berry, black when ripe, with a diameter of 8 to 10 mm. The fruit contains many depressed, lentil-shaped seeds about 1 mm in size. The black berries, about the size of a cherry stone, taste sweet and juicy and have an aftertaste reminiscent of marzipan. Fully ripe berries taste a little like kiwi or physalis. The unripe berries and all other parts of the plant are poisonous.

Growing tips

🌡️ Sowing - Possible all year round, ideal February-May - No pre-treatment necessary - Germination temperature: 20-26 °C - Germination period: 7-30 days (depending on species) - Light: germination independent of light, but brighter conditions promote strong seedlings - Substrate: fine, loose, slightly moist - Depth: cover only 0.2-0.5 cm (very fine seeds) - Always slightly moist, never wet 💧 Young plant phase - Light requirement: high, similar to tomato or physalis - Temperature: 18-24 °C - Growth: fast, soft stems → support early - Pricking out: as soon as 2-3 true leaves are present - Fertilization: very sparingly, only after 3-4 weeks 🪴 Planting - Planting out: after the ice saints - 20-200 cm high, broadly spreading - often semi-recumbent growth - Planting distance: ◦ creeping species: 40-60 cm ◦ Upright species: 60-80 cm ◦ shrubby species: 80-120 cm - Pot culture: very well possible ◦ Pot size: 5-20 L depending on species ◦ Drainage important ☀️ Location - Sun to partial shade - Warm, sheltered from wind - Can be grown outdoors, in containers or greenhouses (similar to tomatoes) - Soil: humusy, loose, slightly moist - pH: slightly acidic to neutral 🌼 Care - Watering: evenly moist, but not wet - Fertilizing: moderate, every 2-3 weeks with organic liquid fertilizer - Support: useful for upright species - Pinching out: not necessary (unlike tomatoes) - Mulching: retains moisture and promotes fruit set 🍇 Flowering & fruit - Flowering time: from June-July, depending on the species - Pollination: self-fertile, insects improve yield - Fruit set: abundant, often in clusters - Ripening time: 60-90 days after flowering - Signs of ripeness: Color (green → yellow/orange/red/black/purple), soft consistency - Taste: mildly sweet - neutral, very juicy, low acidity, aromatic, fruity ⚠️ Important - Unripe fruits and plant parts are poisonous - Risk of confusion with belladonna (Atropa belladonna) ❄️ Overwintering - Jaltomata is not frost hardy. - Possibilities: Cultivate as an annual (easiest) ◦ Overwinter frost-free as a container plant (10-15 °C, light) ◦ Take cuttings in the fall (very easy!) 🦠 Diseases - Powdery mildew - Downy mildew - Gray mold - Root rot - Virus diseases (rare) 🐛 3. pests - Aphids - Whiteflies - Spider mites - Thrips - snails - Miner flies - Caterpillars 🟢 Good neighbors - Basil, parsley, dill, coriander, mint (pot) - Marigold, marigold, nasturtium, phacelia - Lettuce, spinach, chard, bush beans - Carrots, beet, radishes 🔴 Bad neighbors - Tomato, pepper/chilli, eggplant, potato, other nightshades - Cabbage plants (broccoli, kohlrabi, white cabbage) - Zucchini / pumpkin / melon - maize - Jerusalem artichoke, sunflower - Mint (in the ground!) - Horseradish, radishes - celery - cucumbers - okra - Rice or marsh plants

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Light germinator

Germination temperature

20 - 26 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

80 cm

Row spacing

100 cm

Seeding depth

0.2 cm