Plants growing all around compost bin

[Gillybby]

Around our compost bin, there's a myriad of plants, but one plant in particular is everywhere. I asked my partners father about them and he said they were potatos, but I really doubt that. There are a few potatos in amongst them but I don't think these are potatos.





Mostly I would like to know if these plants are worth keeping or if I can don a pair of gloves and tear into them. Because I reeeeeeally want to tear into them, they're taking up a lot of space. But if they're useful, I might as well keep them around.

[imafan26]

It looks like turkey berry. It is an eggplant relative. If it is, it may be edible but is very bitter. It is a perennial eggplant with some nasty spines. It is also a noxious and invasive weed. It grows back when it is cut down and has some fairly deep roots. The birds will eat the berries and then they sprout up elsewhere.

https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/425
https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/pdfs/SP ... 7-124).pdf

[Gillybby]

Urg, really? I should have guessed it was a weed of sorts.
Thanks so much, I'll make a move on getting them out using brute force tomorrow.

[purpleinopp]

If there's no ripe seeds, it's just more fodder for your compost pile, a gift.

[imafan26]

It won't be that easy to tell if the seeds are ripe. The turkey berry pretty much stays green in color. But, if the berries are taken off and the plant is chopped up, and buried in the compost it should be great fodder.

[purpleinopp]

Helpful info I didn't know about this plant. Thanks for completing the idea!