Tomatoes and potatoes are in the same menage : the Nightshades or Solanaceae . When you prod potatoes , you find comestible tubers . On the other handwriting , tomatoes have fruit that you could eat on the leafy part of the industrial plant . Occasionally , however , gardeners will notice tomato face things on tater works . The reasons why Irish potato plant flower are environmental and do not affect the eatable nature of the tubers . If your potato plant bloom , you might even be able to raise a material white potato vine plant , which is different from the parent industrial plant in many manner .
It ’s not uncommon for gardeners to be taken aback when they recognise small , round , light-green tomato - corresponding fruit produce on their potato plants . At first glimpse , it seems impossible – tomato and potatoes are completely different vegetables , right ? Not quite ! While we typically produce them for different eatable parts – tomatoes for their yield and potatoes for their secret tubers – both plants in reality belong to the nightshade family Solanaceae . This means they share a airless genetic relationship and some morphological similarity .
Why Don’t We See Potato Fruits More Often?
If potato plants are capable of get fruits similar to love apple why do n’t we see it more regularly in vegetable garden ? There are a few fundamental reasons
Many Solanum tuberosum multifariousness do not flower or produce fruit even under normal growing conditions , former and previous age varieties are less likely to blossom and fruit
Some varieties may blossom but have male uninventive flowers , meaning they do not produce viable pollen . Without pollen transfer from another white potato potpourri , fruits will not form .
Even when a potato plant flowers and pollination occurs , the right environmental condition are still required for successful yield formation . Cool , humid summers retroflex the aboriginal Andean mountain clime of the potato and encourage fruiting . raging , ironical weather inhibits it .
So in most home gardens , the modal Irish potato works plainly does not receive the right cues to lead up yield yield . When it does occur , it ’s a rare and interesting fallal for the nurseryman !
What Do Potato Fruits Look Like?
The tomato - like fruits that occasionally develop on white potato are more accurately identify as Charles Edward Berry - like . They are lowly , unripe , and stave or oval in shape , resemble a midget gullible cherry tomato . Some varieties may produce fruits with a imperial peel . The yield contain little eatable seeds , just like a love apple .
They typically develop after flowering and pollination occurs on the tater plant . The blossom and pollination requirements are very exchangeable between white potato and tomatoes since they are close-fitting relatives . This helps explain why the fruits look so standardized !
Are Potato Fruits Edible?
Here is an important warning about Solanum tuberosum fruits – despite appearance , they should not be eaten !
While the surreptitious tubers are an edible vegetable , above ground tater works role such as stem , leaves , and fruits contain high concentrations of life-threatening glycoalkaloids such as solanine . This natural toxin can do GI and neurologic issues if ingested , even in small-scale total .
So while the fleeceable fruits may await enticing , it ’s best to bequeath them alone and stick to enjoying potatoes the traditional elbow room . peculiarity is not worth risking unwellness !
Can You Grow Potatoes from Potato Fruit Seeds?
Since the fruits comprise right ejaculate , an interesting gardening projection is to try grow Modern white potato plant life from them . Here are some tip if you ’d like to give it a try :
Allow yield to fully ripen on the plant life – they will change color and weaken when ready .
Extract and dry the germ from good fruits . Store in a coolheaded , dry seat .
In give , sow seed indoors in germ tray just like you would tomato seeded player . Provide warm soil temperatures and plenty of light .
transplantation seedlings to the garden once frost hazard has passed . Hill and deal for them as you would standard potato plants .
Tubers will mould on fledged plant in late summer , ready for harvest home .
The fun of growing potatoes from true seeds is observing the diverseness of tubers that develop . Potato plants grown from tubers are clones while seed - grown plant introduce genetic diversity and new trait . Tuber appearance , quality , and smack will vary !
The Takeaway
While uncommon , potato flora can sometimes produce fruits that resemble modest green tomatoes . This occurs as a solvent of the close genetical relationship between potatoes and tomatoes as fellow nightshade family phallus . The yield themselves are not suited for eating , but can be used to generate Modern and alone potato plants . So if you notice some unexpended little fruit on your potato plant this year , no indigence to be alarmed – just love this unique garden wonder !
Do Potato Plants Bloom?
Potato plants produce flowers during the end of their mature season . These routine into the true fruit of the industrial plant , which resemble small , immature tomatoes . It ’s normal for potato plants to blossom , but the flowers commonly just dry out and fall down off without make yield . Why Solanum tuberosum plants flower can look upon the temperatures or excessive sum of fertilizer . Plants that experience cold , nighttime temperatures will set fruit . Also , high measure of fertiliser can encourage the organization of tomato looking things on potato plants .
Tomato Looking Things on Potato Plants
Can a white potato vine works rise a tomato ? The fruits that look like tomato plant are in reality just Solanum tuberosum plant Charles Edward Berry . The berries are not comestible but they do nt affect the development of the tuber . yield does n’t offend the tubers ’ increase , but youngster can get very interested in the little fruits , which can be dangerous . Where potato plant turned into tomatoes , the fruits create extra interest to the leafy greens . That enunciate , nightshade plants have gamy layer of a toxin called solanine . This is a poisonous substance that can cause illness in citizenry , especially kid . When kids are playing , it ’s in effect to keep the fruit and other enticing thing out of their reach . The yield resemblance to sweet cherry tomatoes can pose a hazard to little ace .
How I Grew Potatoes And Tomatoes On The Same Plant
Can a love apple works grow on a potato plant ?
A pomato works , sometimes referred to as a “ half potato half tomato ” plant , is the result of grafting a tomato plant ( the scion ) onto a potato industrial plant ( the rootstock ) . This unequalled crossbreed grows tomatoes above ground and potatoes below ground . How do I engraft a tomato works onto a white potato plant ?
Can tomato plant and potatoes grow together ?
If you are think growing tomato and potatoes in the same garden together , there are a few factors you ’ll need to view . While both of these plants are quite pop in many inexpert veggie gardens , do they make good companion plants when grown alongside one another ? learn on and see out if you should develop these plants side by side !
Can you implant tomato next to tater ?
It seems logical that you could plant Lycopersicon esculentum plants next to Solanum tuberosum since they are in the same household . It is okay to plant Lycopersicon esculentum near potatoes . The running word here is “ near . ” Since both tomatoes and white potato vine are in the same family , they are also susceptible to some of the same diseases .
How do you grow Lycopersicon esculentum & potatoes ?
Start with a healthy plant life and ensure it make plenteous water and sunlight , and chance are good you ’ll have a prissy harvest of some tomatoes and spud ! see for a planting locating in full sun that gets a lower limit of 6 - 8 hours of lineal sunlight per day . Also , make indisputable you ’re close to a piss reservoir to make watering the plant life tardily .
