Ever heard of tomatoes growing on a potato plant?
Question:I am not a dedicated gardener but occasionaly throw some veggies in. Just noticed some tomatoes growing from the stalks of the spuds, has anyone else seen this? Not a joke, can I ask for only serious answers please ta
Answers:
Yes I have seen this on several occasions but many years ago. I think they are called love apples. I think it might depend on the variety of potato grown,but as you know a potato flowers before the haulm dies down. On some varieties the flowers are pollinated and a fruit develops, looking like a green tomato..Potatoes and tomatoes are related and belong to the same plant family as deadly nightshade. These green fruits are very poisonous and should not be eaten or cooked. The use of the seeds in these fruits are how plant breeders create new varieties of potatoes, but that is about the only use they are put to. Hope this helps.
did you grow toms in the same bit before...if so that is why you have a rare breed lol...so really its like a cross breed well done
Be careful here! They are not tomatoes but potatoes that have grown above the ground. As far as I can remember THEY CAN BE OR ARE TOXIC. So take care!!
Yes they sell tomato plants which are grafted to a potato root. I've seen them referred to "Tompato" plants.
Don't worry its no genetic engineering going on, grafting isn't a big deal. Its just a marketing gimmick.
Potatoes, tomatoes and the Nightshades are all species of the family Solanaceae. Those berries are NOT tomatoes and are likely to be deadly poisonous. The tomato is the only member of the Solanaceae that is edible.
Yes, I have heard of this. Not actually seen one though. I remember seeing an ad for a combination tomato/potato plant, but don't think you'd get the seeds just anywhere.
However, I did find a web site for the tomato potato plant:
www.microgear.net/gwinford/tom... but what you're more likely have is the true fruit of a potato plant. Potato fruit contain relatively large amounts of solanine; a poisonous alkaloid. DO NOT EAT the fruits!!
Hi - just a note about Michael B's comment above about tomatoes being the only edible members of Solanceae. Not true...eggplant, tomatillos, all peppers and chiles, as well as tomatoes and potatoes all belong to Solanceae. I do agree that you should probably ignore your volunteer "tomatoes," or pull them out. Good luck!
Those are potato seed balls and they are very toxic.
Seed balls contain potato seeds (not to be confused with seed potatoes) The seeds can be planted and will grow spuds but since the seeds almost never produce taters like their parents you will likely end up with whole new varieties of potatoes if you choose to plant the seeds
Pmsl They're not tomatoes & for **** sake don't eat them, they're poisonous!
They belong to the same family, On the peril of your life DON'T eat them. They are poisonous.
No they are potato fruits. Tomatoes and spuds are closely related which is why you must not plant one after the other. Those potato fruits are poisonous so please don't put them in your salad.
Incidentally if you dry out the potato fruits and sow the seed next year you will get a new variety of potato.
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