5 Reasons to Grow a Pomato Plant
Harvest both tomatoes and potatoes from the same plant: Meet the pomato plant! (Yes, you read that right.) Pomato plants are growing in popularity as a unique way to conserve space in small gardens. Plus, they make a fun conservation starter! Here are 5 reasons to plant a pomato.
What is a Pomato?
A pomato plant is a grafted plant that produces both tomatoes above ground and potatoes underground.
The main appeal is its ability to yield two different crops from one plant – fresh tomatoes from the vines above the soil and potatoes from the roots beneath the soil.
While the concept has been around for a long time, commercially available pomato plants (sometimes branded as “TomTato” or “Ketchup ‘n’ Fries”) have been sold to the public in recent years.
5 Reasons to Grow Pomato Plants
1) Save Space
A pomato plant allows you to harvest two different crops – tomatoes (above ground) and potatoes (below ground) – from the footprint of a single plant. This is especially valuable for urban gardeners, those with small plots, balconies, or limited container space. See 10 veggies you can easily grow in pots.
2) Efficient Use of Resources
Since you’re tending to one plant instead of two, you can be more efficient with resources like water and fertilizer. While pomato plants are “heavy feeders,” streamlined watering and feeding routines is easier than managing separate crops with slightly different needs.
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3) Potential Disease Resistance
When a pomato plant is created, the potato rootstock may be specifically chosen for its natural resistance to common soil-borne diseases (like certain blights or nematodes) that might affect both potatoes and tomatoes. This stronger, more resilient root system can lead to a healthier overall plant, potentially reducing the need for chemical interventions.
4) Novelty and Educational Value
For many gardeners, the pomato plant is simply a fascinating and fun project. It’s a great conversation starter and provides a unique hands-on learning experience about grafting, plant biology, and how different plant parts develop.
Watch this video by Mary Jane Duford of HomeForTheHarvest.com:
5) Increased Productivity per Square Foot
While individual yields for either tomatoes or potatoes might not be as high as dedicated plants, the combined output from one pomato plant often exceeds what you could get by growing separate plants in the same amount of space. You’re essentially maximizing the return on your garden’s real estate.
Any Questions?
Do you have specific questions about growing pomatoes or otherwise? Let us know in the comments! Your questions will be answered by our expert gardeners.
This article was published by the Staff at FarmersAlmanac.com. Any questions? Contact us at questions@farmersalmananac.com.
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
Hi,
My name is Maya Hausammann, and I am a biology student at the high school in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland. As part of a biology project, I would like to conduct a study on grafting tomato plants onto potato plants. The goal is to compare the yield of these grafted plants with that of ungrafted tomato and potato plants. I plan to graft “Marmande” tomatoes onto “Charlotte” tubers. I will start tomato seedlings indoors and plant the tubers directly into the ground in a greenhouse in my parents’ orchard.
I read your article “5 Reasons to Grow a Pomato Plant” with great interest. Could you offer me some advice? In what order should the tomato seeds and the tubers be planted? Should I plant the tomatoes or the potatoes first? At approximately what interval? I have read that the ideal age for tomato seedlings for grafting is 25–32 days. However, I cannot find any information on the best age of potato plants for grafting.
Thank you very much for your valuable advice.
Best regards,
Maya Hausammann
Does this affect the taste of either?