Graft & Grow a TomTato – Pomato Plant

Graft & Grow a TomTato – Pomato Plant and How To Graft A Potato And Tomato Plant Together in 6 Easy Steps.  If your an avid gardener like me, this Graft & Grow a TomTato Pomato Plant story may peek your interest – as it did mine back in January 2013 when I first wrote about grafting these two together in “One Plant That Grows Both Tomatoes and Potatoes”.  So check it, here we are again– one plant that grows both tomatoes and potatoes and now they’re calling it  The Ketchup ‘n’ Fries Plant | The TomTato Plant | The Pomato.  Does this not sound like the perfect solution to saving garden space?  And a great idea if you have an Intensive Garden? I’ve seen these plants offered in the gardening books, however if you’re leery of purchasing these already altered TomTato plants,  you can now do the grafting yourself on your favorite heirloom tomato plant, by just following the easy directions below compliments of E-How Garden Guides.

So are you ready?  Let’s dive right in with the How To Graft A Potato And Tomato Plant Together in 6 Easy Steps

YOU WILL NEED

Tomato plant
Potato plant
Sharp knife
grafting tape

Directions to Graft a TomTato – Pomato in a Container

Preparations – Fill a well-draining 1-gallon container with a soil-less potting mix, do not compact and leave a 2-inch space between the soil and the brim.  Separate the roots before setting in the hole, and back-fill around the root ball with the soil.

1. Cut the stem of the potato plant so that it is split into a “V” shape. Cut the stem so that about 1 inch is exposed above the ground.
2. Cut the roots from the tomato plant, making a cut on the stem that is straight across using a sharp knife. The cutting should be about 6 to 8 inches long.
3. Cut the tomato stem so that it looks like a wedge shape by cutting material off both sides of the bottom of the stem. Make the cut so that it fits into the “V” shape cut into the potato plant stock.
4. Slide the two cut pieces together.
5. Wrap the graft with grafting tape so that the cut holds.
6. Remove the grafting tape once the plants begin to show new growth.

TIP:  use a tomato plant and a potato plant that have stems of roughly equal size so the graft takes easily.

Plant Tomtato – Pomato Plant just like a Tomato
TomTatoes / Pomatoes should be grown in full sun in well-draining, rich fertile soil – PH should be between 5 and 6. Since both tomatoes and potatoes need plenty of food, fertilize at planting and again in three months. Water consistently and deeply, and add a tomato support like a cage or stakes.  If the potato foliage grows through the tomato foliage, pinch it back to soil level. Add compost to cover the potatoes every so often to prevent any from becoming green. Once the tomatoes have finished producing, cut the plant back and harvest the potatoes beneath the soil surface.

And there you have it – your planted TomTato – Pomato plant.  Just following the directions and see how this plant does over the growing months.  I’m putting mine in today so lets compare come fall.  Until then – CIAO & HAPPY GARDENING  🙂