Tomato like fruit on Potato Plant?

[Daphne1411]

My potato plants enjoyed the weather recently, whilst I was away on hols they shot up to beat Jacks beanstalk! A lot of the plants have now fallen over with the weight of the greenery-despite being supported with numerous canes....
BUT I have noticed lots of small tomato like fruits on the stalks. What are these and are my tatties going to be okay? Some of the plants still have flowers on them and I've read that I can only harvest the potatoes when the flowers have all gone and the greenery is dying off. It is all looking so healthy still, cept for it now prefers to lie on the lawn its so top heavy.

[quark1]

The fruits and top growth of the potato are poisonous so don't be tempted to try/eat one.

What you have now is an opportunity to try and grow some from your own seed and/or swap for next year. The seeds will almost certainly not be true to type but part of the fun of growing from True Potato Seed is the lottery of what nature gives back when you try - as with any other, non-isolated, saved seed. If you do decide to save them please ensure they are stored safely away from 'small' hands and animals.

You'll see the 'Doronal' thread pinned towards the top of this board for further info and progress of this year's project.

[zazen999]

I've seen this on another forum - they aren't from the flowers/fruits - they are growing up the stem...the consensus was that nobody had seen this before.

I've not been back there to see if anyone else had any suggestions.

ETA: just checked back, still no solution - the person cut them in half and they were potato in the middle not 'tomato-potato' fruits....but as they were green they aren't really edible.

[quark1]

Sorry - I misread - but the comment regarding real fruits stands.

I also had not tomato shaped 'things' but almost what I can only describe as 'above-ground' mini potatoes trying to grow from the between branches last year. Obviously with them being quite green they would not have been suitable for eating and I always apply the rule that anything above ground on a potato plant is poisonous.

I didn't try it - but I'd fancy you could probably save the bigger ones and see if its not a mini tuber - what have you to lose?

[Rocketron]

I've seen this on another forum - they aren't from the flowers/fruits - they are growing up the stem...the consensus was that nobody had seen this before.

I've not been back there to see if anyone else had any suggestions.

ETA: just checked back, still no solution - the person cut them in half and they were potato in the middle not 'tomato-potato' fruits....but as they were green they aren't really edible.

I think they are tubers trying to grow on potatoes that haven't been "earthed-up" sufficiently. I say this as we had them on a plant that we didn't know was there(if you know what I mean ).

[Two_Sheds]

BUT I have noticed lots of small tomato like fruits on the stalks.

Attached to the stem like a wart? Or hanging off the top of the plant like tomatoes?

[ChrisG]

I have these they hang from the foliage like mini toms.

[Two_Sheds]

I have these they hang from the foliage like mini toms.

They contain seeds ... you can try growing them. http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...9-a_20577.html

[TonyF]

Ummmmm, I was reading about this just yesterday and if they're what I think they are, yes they are poisonous and yes, they are perfectly natural, it's what potatoes do sometimes, seem to recall something about being in the same genetic family, like tomatillo, nightshade etc.

[Nicos]

Is this what you're describing????

Résultats Google Recherche d'images correspondant à http://tinyfarmblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sum08_potato_fruit.jpg


I'd just nip them off- they're wasting food and energy which should be going into growing the spuds!!!!

[zazen999]

Daphne - please come back and put us out of our misery.....

[Daphne1411]

They are growing like a small truss of tomatoes, hanging in bunches off of the stalks-fairly near to the top of the plants. I'm going to remove them as suggested to keep all the growth going to my potatoes. If anything, what should I do about the foilage? Its falling all over the place and too heavy for the numerous support canes. When I planted the seed potatoes I read that they would be ready to harvest in september. As this is my first time I'm going by the book but am open to advice.

[zazen999]

AAh, they are the potato fruits - they come after the flowers

Have a furtle under the soil and see if they are ready yet.

[pinkprincess]

I saw this post when I was work today but didnt bother reading it and when I got home I found that I also have them. I was a bit freaked out so rushed in here and logged on. Now going to pop outside and have a root about and see if they are ready.

[Scottishnewbie]

Me too! I'm so glad I remembered this thread! Too late to go back out but will be a busy girl in the morning me thinks