Have you ever imagined picking juicy tomatoes and digging up tasty potatoes from the same plant? Meet the Pomato—a real, grafted hybrid that lets gardeners harvest two crops from a single plant! The Pomato is not genetically modified; it’s the result of a clever grafting technique, combining a tomato plant above ground and a potato plant below. Perfect for small gardens, urban spaces, or anyone who loves garden innovation.
What Is a Pomato Plant?
A Pomato (also known as a “TomTato”) is created by grafting the stem of a tomato plant onto the rootstock of a potato plant. Both are members of the nightshade family, making them compatible for this unique pairing. The result: tomatoes grow above the soil, while potatoes develop beneath the surface.
How to Grow a Pomato Plant
1. Purchase or Prepare Your Pomato
- Buy a grafted plant: Some garden centers and online retailers sell ready-made Pomato plants.
- DIY Grafting: Advanced gardeners can try grafting a young tomato plant onto a young potato plant. This requires some skill and sterilized equipment, so beginners may prefer starting with a purchased plant.
2. Choose the Right Pot or Spot
- Container Gardening: Use a deep, large pot (at least 40cm/16in deep) to give potato tubers room to grow.
- Garden Bed: Select a sunny, well-drained spot with loose, fertile soil.
3. Planting
- Plant the Pomato so the graft union (the “scar” where tomato and potato are joined) stays above the soil.
- Bury the potato portion deep enough to cover its roots, but keep the tomato stem exposed.
- Water well after planting.
Caring for Your Pomato Plant
Sunlight
- Pomato plants need full sun—at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Watering
- Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy.
- Water at the base to avoid wetting tomato leaves, which can encourage disease.
Feeding
- Use a balanced fertilizer or tomato feed every two weeks during active growth.
- Add compost or organic matter to enrich the soil.
Support
- As tomatoes grow, stake the plant or use a tomato cage to support the upper growth.
Mulching
- Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Pests and Diseases
- Watch for common tomato and potato pests (aphids, blight, hornworms).
- Remove any yellowing leaves and inspect regularly.
How to Harvest Pomato Plants
Tomatoes
- Pick tomatoes as they ripen on the vine (usually mid- to late-summer).
- Regular harvesting encourages more fruit to form.
Potatoes
- Wait until the tomato plant has finished producing and the foliage starts to die back (usually late summer or early fall).
- Gently dig below the plant to find the potato tubers.
- Take care not to damage them as you harvest.
Tips for Success
- Don’t plant the graft too deep: The tomato stem should stay above soil to prevent it from rooting separately.
- Keep the potato part well-covered: Only the potato roots need to be underground.
- Practice crop rotation: Avoid growing Pomato in the same spot two years in a row to reduce disease risk.
- Enjoy the novelty! The Pomato is a fantastic talking point and a great project for families or school gardens.
Final Thoughts
The Pomato plant is an innovative way to maximize your garden space and experience the wonder of growing two delicious crops on a single plant. Whether you’re a beginner gardener or a seasoned green thumb, give this unique hybrid a try—you might be amazed at your harvest!
