Solanum sp. (likely a species/subspecies of Solanum nigrum)
Miltomate Vallisto is another relatively unknown “garden huckleberry” with so many good things going for it.
The berries are ripe when ‘shiny-black’ and have a very good, sweet, complex taste. The seed savers at Farmacie Isolde describe the ripe berries as tasting of “blackberries and licorice, an odd combination that is at first startling and then quite addictive.” That is a very apt description.
We eat the ‘shiny-black’ berries raw, and they can also be used in jams, jellies and pies. The purple-black colour indicates high levels of anthocyanins.
Miltomate Vallisto is similar to, but different than, Mrs Bs (our other variety of Garden Huckleberry):
- It is taller that Mrs Bs – with plants about 4 -5 ft tall. It doesn’t need support but does have sprawling branches.
- The small flowers are a light lavender colour (Mrs Bs have white flowers).
- The flavour is different as well — both varieties are sweet — but Mrs Bs has a faint vanilla ice cream flavour whereas Miltomte Vallisto has a more complex ‘berry’ flavour.
- The ripe berries of Miltomate Vallisto are ‘shiny-black’ whereas the ripe berries of Mrs Bs are ‘matte-black’.
As reported by the seed savers at Good Mind Seeds, Miltomate Vallisto is indigenous to Africa, but has been growing in Mexico for centuries.
**Please note that Miltomate Vallisto will self-sow via berries left in the garden (although not as readily as Mrs Bs) — so we suggest planting Miltomate Vallisto in a container or in an isolated garden patch away from your main garden.
______________________
How to Plant: Start indoors 6 weeks or so before the date of last frost. Press the very small seeds into the soil and barely cover. Seeds need light to germinate. Place the pots under bright light/under grow lights and keep the soil moist and warm. Seeds can take 1-3 weeks to germinate. Once seedlings emerge, keep under grow lights. Transplant outside when the danger of frost has passed. **See notes above about planting in a container or isolated patch of garden.
