Harvesting of Phytolacca americana typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.
pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is an herbaceous plant found growing throughout much of North America. It has green, oval pointed leaves, clustered near the ground, and bright pink stems with dark purple to almost black berries. It prefers full sunlight, moist soil, and can grow up to 10 feet tall. All parts of the plant are toxic except the berries when they are mature and cooked properly. Consuming pokeweed should be done with extreme caution to avoid adverse health effects.pokeweed is an important host plant to caterpillars of the silvery checkerspot butterfly.
Cycle:
Herbaceous Perennial
Watering:
Average
Propagation:
Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation,Division,Grafting Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
4 - 8
Flowers:
Greenish-white Flowers
Sun:
Full sun,part shade
Fruits:
green,purple,pink,black Fruits Ready In Fall
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green
Growth Rate:
Low
Maintenance:
Low
Poisonous To Humans:
Yes
Poisonous To Pets:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Thorny:
Yes
Invasive:
Yes
Care Level:
Medium
watering
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) should be watered about once or twice a week depending on the climate. During the summer, when temperatures are hot and humidity is low, water more often with a deep watering that allows the top few inches of soil to become dry between waterings. During the cooler months, when temperatures and humidity are low, the plant can survive with less frequent waterings. It is important to avoid over-watering, as pokeweed is prone to root rot. Water at the base of the plant when necessary and avoid getting the leaves wet.
sunlight
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) prefers full sun or at least 6 hours of sun per day. If planted in partial shade, the plant may still survive, but it won't reach its full growth potential. Direct midday sun can be too strong in some regions, so checking local conditions is recommended. Additionally, the Pokeweed needs warm weather for optimal growth: it prefers a temperature of at least 25°F (-3.9°C). During the winter months, with fewer hours of sunlight and lower temperatures, the growth of the Pokeweed slows down.
pruning
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) should be pruned once a year in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Pruning should be light to moderate (no more than 1/3 of the overall height), as this species does not respond well to hard pruning. When pruning, remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches, along with any overcrowded or leggy stems. For the best results, prune the pokeweed to encourage a bushy shape while allowing for plenty of air flow to reduce fungal and disease issues.
Season
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit
Starts Flowering
Pokeweed typically starts flowering in late June or early July.
Harvest Fruit
Harvesting of Phytolacca americana typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.
