I was reading “best ideas for organic vegetable growing “ and while many of the ideas that were novel then are now standard and others are still perfectly good but never took off, I found one idea that could have served as the prototype for all those 5-minute craft videos about planting seeds in random foods.

I do remember this from years ago. I don't think that it caught on too well.

Ha, interesting.

I may be misremembering, but when this sort of thing came up came up in one of my classes*, we were told the plants compete for resources and you end up with not much of a crop of potatoes or tomatoes. Still, I think it would be fun to try.

*In that case it was tomato stem grafted to potato stem.

I think I saw a retailer many years ago advertising such plants in pots, as French Fries and Ketchup, LoL.

peebee wrote: ↑Sun Jan 07, 2024 12:59 pm I think I saw a retailer many years ago advertising such plants in pots, as French Fries and Ketchup, LoL.

Yep

I just Googled it & the plants are still being sold.

Yeah, Totally Tomatoes--you guys have me going I might try this!

Yeah it is the opposite of the common companion planting that says "don't plant tomatoes near potatoes" due to common diseases crossing. Which I've never really understood, either.

What is the timing on planting and harvest of the potatoes versus the tomatoes? Just leave the potatoes in the ground until Oct 1 when the tomatoes are about kaput?

edit Also the seed potatoes will set the tubers above the seed, so that means a pretty deeply set potato. Or a hilled up tomato plant? The next article not to mulch the tomatoes until the ground is warm.

JRinPA wrote: ↑Sun Jan 07, 2024 4:25 pm Yeah it is the opposite of the common companion planting that says "don't plant tomatoes near potatoes" due to common diseases crossing. Which I've never really understood, either.

Cultuvariable says not to plant dahlias near your potatoes because they can give them potato virus Y

JRinPA wrote: ↑Sun Jan 07, 2024 4:25 pmWhat is the timing on planting and harvest of the potatoes versus the tomatoes? Just leave the potatoes in the ground until Oct 1 when the tomatoes are about kaput?

That seems about what they are saying here: https://www.totallytomato.com/product/T39580/15

Holy cow $17 for one cherry tomato plant and 4 lb of potatoes. 1969 method it is!