I am not a dedicated gardener but occasionaly throw some veggies in. Just noticed some tomatoes growing from the stalks of the spuds, has anyone else seen this? Not a joke, can I ask for only serious answers please ta
2007-07-15 07:55:54 · 12 answers · asked by harpomac15 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Yes I have seen this on several occasions but many years ago. I think they are called love apples. I think it might depend on the variety of potato grown,but as you know a potato flowers before the haulm dies down. On some varieties the flowers are pollinated and a fruit develops, looking like a green tomato..Potatoes and tomatoes are related and belong to the same plant family as deadly nightshade. These green fruits are very poisonous and should not be eaten or cooked. The use of the seeds in these fruits are how plant breeders create new varieties of potatoes, but that is about the only use they are put to. Hope this helps.
2007-07-15 08:11:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I have heard of this. Not actually seen one though. I remember seeing an ad for a combination tomato/potato plant, but don't think you'd get the seeds just anywhere.
However, I did find a web site for the tomato potato plant:
www.microgear.net/gwinford/tompot.htm, but what you're more likely have is the true fruit of a potato plant. Potato fruit contain relatively large amounts of solanine; a poisonous alkaloid. DO NOT EAT the fruits!!
2007-07-15 08:11:58 · answer #2 · answered by Jennypurr 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No they are potato fruits. Tomatoes and spuds are closely related which is why you must not plant one after the other. Those potato fruits are poisonous so please don't put them in your salad.
Incidentally if you dry out the potato fruits and sow the seed next year you will get a new variety of potato.
2007-07-15 18:33:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi - just a note about Michael B's comment above about tomatoes being the only edible members of Solanceae. Not true...eggplant, tomatillos, all peppers and chiles, as well as tomatoes and potatoes all belong to Solanceae. I do agree that you should probably ignore your volunteer "tomatoes," or pull them out. Good luck!
2007-07-15 08:50:48 · answer #4 · answered by Molly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those are potato seed balls and they are very toxic.
Seed balls contain potato seeds (not to be confused with seed potatoes) The seeds can be planted and will grow spuds but since the seeds almost never produce taters like their parents you will likely end up with whole new varieties of potatoes if you choose to plant the seeds
2007-07-15 09:15:52 · answer #5 · answered by Ohiorganic 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I've heard of them. They were pretty hot several years ago, but I've never tried them. I'm an experienced vegetable gardener and have always understood that the seeds of hybrids cannot be propagated. However, I am also an experimenter, and when someone says that it can't be done, I'll try it just for the hell of it. Give it a shot!
2016-05-18 03:08:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Potatoes, tomatoes and the Nightshades are all species of the family Solanaceae. Those berries are NOT tomatoes and are likely to be deadly poisonous. The tomato is the only member of the Solanaceae that is edible.
2007-07-15 08:05:07 · answer #7 · answered by Michael B 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Be careful here! They are not tomatoes but potatoes that have grown above the ground. As far as I can remember THEY CAN BE OR ARE TOXIC. So take care!!
2007-07-15 08:00:29 · answer #8 · answered by arthur8887 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they sell tomato plants which are grafted to a potato root. I've seen them referred to "Tompato" plants.
Don't worry its no genetic engineering going on, grafting isn't a big deal. Its just a marketing gimmick.
2007-07-15 08:01:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
They belong to the same family, On the peril of your life DON'T eat them. They are poisonous.
2007-07-15 13:27:18 · answer #10 · answered by xenon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋