How to Graft a Tomato Plant Onto a Potato Stalk

If you have a small garden or just like to do unique things to your plants, why not try grafting a tomato plant and potato plant together. The resulting hybrid, the pomato, will grow potatoes below ground and tomatoes above. This is particularly useful if you have soil that just doesn't grow tomatoes well, as the potato roots will handle the soil interaction. While this is a fun experiment and can bring a great yield per square foot in the garden, it can also have an effect on the taste of the fruit of the tomato.

Tomato plant
Potato plant
Sharp knife
Grafting tape
Large pot
Soil
Super glue

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase a tomato plant that is at least 8 inches tall with a hearty stem. The grafting process can be hard on plants, so they need to be healthy to survive the process. Purchase a healthy potato plant as well.
- 2
  Remove the plants from their pots. Stand them next to each other so the two stems are almost touching.
- 3
  Cut a thin strip about two inches long down the side of the potato plant stem. Do the same for the tomato plant (at the same height).
- 4
  Pull the plant stems together so that the cut areas are in direct contact with each other. Secure them in place with grafting tape. Make sure that all of the cut surface is covered so that there is no chance for disease to enter the wound.
- 5
  Place the new grafted plant in a large pot, and water it thoroughly. Keep it moist for the next two to three days.
- 6
  Watch the plant for the next week. If you see a bulging of the area that has been taped with grafting tape, then the graft has been successful. Wait about one more week before pruning the plant.
- 7
  Cut off the top of the potato plant just above the graft. Seal the top of the cut with super glue. Cut the stem of the tomato plant as well, this time just below the graft site. Remove the stem from the pot, and toss it aside. Super glue this cut as well.

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