BLACK NIGHTSHADE....#2 

In today's post I'll be sharing the story of MANATHAKKALI plant , it is the Tamil name for BLACK NIGHT SHADE (in English). Its scientific name is SOLANUM NIGRUM.

We generally eat this manathakkali berries in a sun dried, salted form. It is also used in a variety of south Indian cuisines . Not only Manathakkali but many other edibles are dried under sun and pickled in order to store some for the approaching winter.

Initially I did not sow any seed to grow this Manathakkali, as I mentioned about the usage of this pickled 

berry, my mother had just put some old, dried, uncooked berries on the soil....and it automatically grew when regular water supply was assured to it.

AND to tell you that I have harvested the leaves of this plant (which are also edible) for about 5 times now and even now they get regenerated.......its has given me a really good yield.....

AND now its boring to eat the leaves anymore...so we did not pluck the leaves for a while and now the flowers have started turning into berries.. some have ripen and turned black..and to tell you these black fruits are sweet and sour in taste, the green unripe ones are a little sour and bitter in taste and are used in cooking different cuisines.

TODAY me and my mother harvested the green berries for tomorrow's lunch (side dish). We got a handful of berries which would be sufficient for the dish that my mother's gonna make tomorrow.

awaited to taste the food from my garden.....!

THANK YOU!!!!!!