Post date: Sep 26, 2013 2:3:22 PM
TomTato hybrid plant which grows both tomatoes and potatoes is launched as "Veg plot in a pot" in the UK.
IPSWICH, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 26, 2013) (ITN) - A British company on Thursday (September 26) launched its mass-produced TomTato plant which produces both tomatoes and potatoes.
It sounds like science-fiction, but the TomTato is not actually the result of genetic engineering, rather each plant is individually hand-grafted.Above the ground grow sweet cherry tomatoes and below white potatoes.
"It is completely natural and safe," said Michael Perry, New Product Development Manager atThomson and Morgan which is producing the TomTato plants.
The TomTato is being marketed as "Veg plot in a pot" as each plant can yield more than 500 tomatoes and a healthy crop of potatoes.
"It's not a gimmick at all, it is brilliant space saving, you know we've got less space in our gardens these days, we can't all get on the waiting list for allotments, we don't have veg patches, but these can be grown really really easily on the patio. So you've got two plants, two crops in one pot and more excitingly a fruit and a vegetable: the tomato and the potato," said Perry.
Grafted potato and tomato plants have been around for over 15 years, but this is the first time that plants have been successfully produced commercially.
Tomatoes are members of the potato family and are therefore naturally compatible with potatoes.