Okay, so gardening in small spaces is kind of the trend right now, right? Everyone’s trying to figure out how to make the most out of patios, balconies, or that one sunny corner in the backyard. That’s where this wild little invention comes in — the TomTato.
Ever heard of it? It’s a single plant that literally grows tomatoes on top and potatoes underneath. I know it sounds made up, but it’s real. Let me tell you how it works and how you can grow one too.
What Even Is a TomTato?
This plant came from a horticulture company in the Netherlands — Beekenkamp Plants. Someone there must have really liked fries with ketchup because they had the genius idea to graft a cherry tomato plant to a white potato root. Pretty clever, right? They started selling it around 2015 in the Dutch market, and now it’s slowly catching on in other places.
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Here’s the amazing part — it’s not genetically modified. That’s because tomatoes and potatoes are cousins — they’re both in the nightshade family, along with eggplants, peppers, and tomatillos. Kind of makes you wonder what other combos we could try in the future.
They say the plant can produce up to 500 cherry tomatoes, plus a solid amount of potatoes. The tomatoes are said to be sweet but still have a little tang to them. As for the potatoes — they’re yellow and waxy, which makes them great for boiling, mashing, or roasting.
How to Grow a TomTato Without Screwing It Up
Thinking about growing one?
Good news — you can grow it even in a container, as long as it’s deep enough for the potatoes.
Just plant it like a regular tomato. But don’t bury the stem too deep, or you might cover the graft spot. You’ll want to grow it in full sun, with well-draining, rich soil full of organic matter.
Try to keep the soil pH between 5 and 6 if you’re into that level of detail.
Both parts of the plant are heavy feeders, so fertilize at planting time, and then again about three months later. Water consistently and deeply. It also helps to keep the plant sheltered from strong winds or frost.
Sometimes, the potato leaves might grow through the tomato foliage. No problem — just pinch them off at soil level.
Also, if any potatoes are close to the surface, add a bit of compost on top so they don’t turn green from sunlight.
Once your tomatoes finish growing, cut the plant back and go ahead and harvest the potatoes below. You get two crops from one plant, and that’s honestly pretty awesome.
