The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Yes, a TomTato is real: it is a tomato shoot grafted onto a potato plant’s rootstock. The tomato plant produces fruit above ground, while the potato portion can form tubers below ground. It is a grafted combination of two distinct plant parts—not a tomato-potato seed hybrid.
How can one plant grow tomatoes and potatoes?
Tomatoes and potatoes are related crops in the Solanaceae family. A TomTato joins them by grafting: the tomato is the upper shoot, called the scion, and the potato is the lower rootstock. The tomato shoots bear tomatoes; the potato roots can produce tubers. Each crop grows from its respective part of the grafted plant. Beekenkamp’s TomTato guidance and a 2021 ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research article describe this approach.
Thompson & Morgan describes its commercial plant this way: “Each plant is hand-grafted to create this unique double-cropping feature.” The retailer’s TomTato article says the process is not genetic modification. Grafting joins plant tissues; it does not make a new tomato-and-potato variety through ordinary seed breeding.
Is a TomTato a hybrid?
Not in the sense of a seed-bred hybrid. The tomato shoot and potato rootstock remain distinct plant parts joined at a graft. The horticulture literature also distinguishes grafted plants from somatic hybrids made by protoplast fusion; those are different methods and should not be confused. The available descriptions of commercial TomTato plants identify them as grafted, not as genetically modified or as a tomato-potato seed hybrid.
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How much produce can a potted TomTato yield?
An ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research article published on March 30, 2021 reports about 1.5–2.0 kg of tomatoes and 0.5–0.8 kg of potatoes from one potted pomato plant under the conditions discussed in that article. These are reported results, not a guaranteed household harvest; yields depend on the plant and growing conditions.
The same article says productivity could increase two to three folds when indeterminate hybrid tomatoes and advanced production packages are used. That is the authors’ conditional claim, not a general expectation for every plant or a promise of increased yield.
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- Keep moist, not letting the seeds dry out between watering. **SOIL Temperature for Germination: 70-75F. Planting Depth: 1/4". Sprout tomato seeds in small containers, preferably 4" or smaller. In-ground germination is not recommended. Use a standard potting mix that is well drained.
- Start seeds in containers approximately 8 weeks prior to the planned set-out date. Plants should ultimately be transplanted to the garden 1-2 weeks after the expected date of last frost. Soil should be kept consistently warm, from 70-85F. Cool soils, below about 60-65F, even just at night, will significantly delay or inhibit germination. Additionally, overly warm soils, well above 90F, can inhibit germination and provide ideal conditions for seed rot.
- Over watering can cause fungal growth which leads to seed rot. Excess water can also bury seeds deep in the soil where they will not be able break the surface. Water when the soil surface just begins to dry.
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How does a TomTato compare with growing separate plants?
The available sources do not provide a matched trial comparing a grafted TomTato with separate tomato and potato plants. They therefore do not establish whether the combined plant saves space without a yield trade-off, or whether either crop produces as much as it would on a separate plant.
For a practical choice, consider the container space you have, how much of each crop you want, whether the novelty and convenience appeal to you, and whether you are comfortable caring for one grafted plant. The yield figures above cannot be used as a direct comparison with separate plants.
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How to grow a TomTato
Care advice can vary by plant stock and conditions. For its own TomTato, Beekenkamp recommends the following:
- Choose a growing place: Beekenkamp says its plant can grow in garden soil or in a pot. For a container, it recommends at least 20 litres.
- Repot carefully: When repotting, set the graft deeply into the soil, following Beekenkamp’s guidance.
- Keep growth upright: Pinch out side-shoots before they reach 10 centimetres.
- Help indoor flowers release pollen: If the plant is indoors and wind does not move the flower trusses, tap the support cane weekly.
- Remove potato shoots above the soil: Beekenkamp advises removing shoots that emerge above ground from the potato portion.
- Water consistently as tomatoes ripen: Regular watering helps reduce splitting associated with an inconsistent water supply.
Where can you buy a TomTato?
TomTato is a commercial product name, and pomato is also used for the broader grafted-plant category. Beekenkamp and Thompson & Morgan document commercial TomTato plants, while ICAR describes pomato plants. Current sellers, prices, delivery areas, and seasonal stock are not established here, so check live local nursery listings before buying. An Amazon listing or current availability has not been verified.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
