Amazing Idea: Use Potatoes to Grow Tomatoes – Heavy Yields and Fast Harvest

This unique technique, often referred to as the “pomato” plant, allows you to grow tomatoes above ground while harvesting potatoes below the soil—effectively giving you two crops in the space of one. It’s a perfect solution for urban gardeners, small backyard growers, or anyone looking to try something new and highly efficient.

What Is a Pomato Plant?

A pomato plant is created by grafting the top of a tomato plant onto the rootstock of a potato plant. Since both tomatoes and potatoes belong to the nightshade family (Solanaceae), they are biologically compatible and can be successfully fused together. Once grafted, the plant produces tomatoes on the vine and potatoes beneath the soil—all from one root system.

This method is not only space-efficient, but also a fun and educational experiment in grafting and plant biology.

Benefits of Growing Tomatoes on Potatoes

1. 1. Two Crops in One Space
      By combining tomatoes and potatoes into one plant, you double your harvest using the same container or garden bed.

       

1. 1. Great for Small Gardens
      This method is ideal for urban gardeners with limited space, allowing more crops in containers or compact plots.

   2. Fast to Harvest
      Since both crops are grown simultaneously, you’ll get a full harvest of tomatoes in the usual 60–75 days, while the potatoes mature underground.

       

       

   3. Unique and Fun
      It’s a great project for children, schools, or anyone curious about how grafting works in plants.

What You’ll Need

• • A healthy potato plant (already sprouting or growing in soil)

  • A healthy tomato seedling (preferably a variety suited for containers or compact spaces)

     

  • A sharp, sterile knife or blade

• Grafting clips or plastic wrap

• A container or planting bed with rich, well-draining soil

   

   

Step-by-Step Guide to Grafting Tomatoes onto Potatoes

1. Prepare the Plants

Start by growing your potato plant in a container until it is about 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) tall. The stem should be thick and sturdy, ready to support grafting. At the same time, prepare a tomato seedling of similar thickness.

Make sure both plants are healthy and free of disease. The closer the stem diameter of both plants, the higher the chance of successful grafting.

2. Make the Graft

Using a clean, sharp knife, make a diagonal slit in the stem of the potato plant about halfway through. Do the same on the tomato seedling, creating a matching cut so that the two cut surfaces can fit snugly together.

Align the cut sides and bind them tightly using a grafting clip or wrap them carefully with grafting tape or plastic wrap. Ensure good contact between the two cambium layers (the green, moist tissue just beneath the bark) to facilitate healing.

3. Support and Protect the Plant

After grafting, place the plant in a sheltered area with filtered light for a few days to reduce stress and allow the graft to heal. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Avoid strong winds or direct sun during the initial healing phase.

After 7–10 days, check the graft. If it appears strong and the plants are growing well, you can remove any leaves or shoots growing from the potato rootstock below the graft to encourage the tomato plant to take over.

4. Encourage Growth

Once the graft is successful, the tomato portion will begin to grow vigorously. Stake or support it as needed. Fertilize with a balanced vegetable fertilizer every two weeks. Ensure the plant receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.

Below the soil, the potato roots continue to develop tubers while the tomato plant produces fruit above ground.

Caring for the Pomato Plant

• • Watering: Maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging the soil.

  • Feeding: Use compost or balanced fertilizer to support the dual crop growth.

     

  • Pest Control: Watch for aphids, whiteflies, or blight. Neem oil or insecticidal soap can help.

• Pruning: Prune suckers from the tomato vine and keep foliage under control to promote airflow.

Harvesting

Tomatoes:

Tomatoes can be harvested when they reach full color and firmness. This is typically 60–75 days after planting, depending on the variety.

Potatoes:

Once the tomato harvest is complete and the top of the plant begins to yellow or die back, gently dig into the soil to find fully developed potatoes. This usually happens about 90–120 days after planting.

Harvest both crops and enjoy the bounty of your space-saving garden!

Final Thoughts

Growing tomatoes on a potato plant is not only a space-saving gardening hack—it’s a brilliant way to experiment with grafting and enjoy two harvests from a single plant. With just a bit of preparation and care, anyone can try this method at home, even in a small yard, balcony, or container garden.

If you’re looking for a creative, productive, and educational gardening project, grafting tomatoes onto potatoes is an exciting and rewarding method. Give it a try, and watch your garden produce double the harvest from one amazing plant!