Topic: Pomato challenge?

[Jayb]

Anyone having a go at doing a home grafted version or growing  the one from T&M? http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,76624.msg779259.html#msg779259

I've just potted up some overgrown potato shoots which I'm going to use with some tomato tops. Anyone fancy having a go?

[goodlife]

oooo....should I? I haven't looked properly through the link yet...but if it is about joining the two..
I have some potato sprout plants...and spare tomato or two ...both about same stem thickness....hmm...

[Jayb]

Go for it 

[Jayb]

I potted up some potato pulls a couple of days ago and yesterday to develop roots, ready to graft. I was going to do a blog post so I've taken some pictures. I'm planning on trying a couple of different ways, using grafting clips and also superglue method. All good practice as I've started off some tomato rootstock to have a bit of a play and if all goes well I'll do more next year.

[Jayb]

1, Tuber with shoots =
2, Potato pulls/starts/shoots
3, Individually potted pulls.

Next the grafting.

[galina]

Well - I found this odd potato plant and planted a sturdy Arany Alma right next to it.  I guess I leave it to establish for a few days, then take a sliver off both stems, hold them together and tape the join?

If all goes well, then sever the potato top and the tomato root.

Could this work?  I will read the url later - promise - just a bit short of time right now.

[Hector]

Ooh....tempted! Only spate tomato I have isn't the strongest beastie. I'll post a pic and see what you think. never done anything like this.

[goodlife]

Right...job done! 
I had 4 clips handy so I made 4 pomato plants...well, hoping that at least one will work out.
I used this type of method that is described in this video.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHnOYcI6B44  ..made kind of 'Japanese craft cut'.
All 4 plants are now in GH...under netting to avoid strong sun light...plastic bags place over to maintain high humidity and I left teeny little bit of leaf on each growing point to help the rooting and against wilting and drying off.

My 2 potato crafts are saxon and Russian blue...and those were crafted with Anja and Snowdrop tomatoes...both determinate. I'm hoping them being more bushy type...they might complete their cropping more of 'in one go' (both being shorter season tomatoes ).
Well...fingers crossed now....if they are still alive tomorrow...I'll take some photos and to show what happens....

edit to add...BTW!...that video clip show very handy way using tubing as plant 'clips'...

[squeezyjohn]

I did this yesterday ... but I got it the wrong way round putting the top of a potato plant on to tomato rootstock.

 

I'm hoping to get underground tomatoes.

[Jayb]

Well - I found this odd potato plant and planted a sturdy Arany Alma right next to it.  I guess I leave it to establish for a few days, then take a sliver off both stems, hold them together and tape the join?

If all goes well, then sever the potato top and the tomato root.

Could this work?  I will read the url later - promise - just a bit short of time right now.

Yes I'm sure it can work, just what the success rate is I'm not sure. I'd leave it for longer than a couple of days as I don't think healing will have taken place in that time?
I've just used some pinched out suckers as tops, so it will be interested to hear how your little un does using the different method. I'll have a look through and see if I have anything suitable to use and try your method.

[Jayb]

Ooh....tempted! Only spate tomato I have isn't the strongest beastie. I'll post a pic and see what you think. never done anything like this.

As long as the plant is healthy I should think it will be ok, it's the stem size that is important and needs to match up well to give the best chance for the grafts success. I'm using pinched out suckers for my grafts. They grow quite quickly so if you don't have any at the moment you might do soon?

[Jayb]

Right...job done! 
I had 4 clips handy so I made 4 pomato plants...well, hoping that at least one will work out.
I used this type of method that is described in this video.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHnOYcI6B44  ..made kind of 'Japanese craft cut'.
All 4 plants are now in GH...under netting to avoid strong sun light...plastic bags place over to maintain high humidity and I left teeny little bit of leaf on each growing point to help the rooting and against wilting and drying off.

My 2 potato crafts are saxon and Russian blue...and those were crafted with Anja and Snowdrop tomatoes...both determinate. I'm hoping them being more bushy type...they might complete their cropping more of 'in one go' (both being shorter season tomatoes ).
Well...fingers crossed now....if they are still alive tomorrow...I'll take some photos and to show what happens....

edit to add...BTW!...that video clip show very handy way using tubing as plant 'clips'...

Excellent 
Interesting choice using determinates, looking forward to the pictures 

[Jayb]

I did this yesterday ... but I got it the wrong way round putting the top of a potato plant on to tomato rootstock.

 

I'm hoping to get underground tomatoes.

Lol, don't go eating any berries produced!

[goodlife]

Here is one of my 'babies'...still at very tender stage so I didn't dare to disturb them and remove the bag for photo.
This morning good news is that all the cuttings are upright..no drooping tops  ...which shows that at least there is enough humidity in a bag and/or the cuttings get 'watered' by the craft. Btw...I almost 'over watered' the compost..hoping that potato being 'tougher'..it won't upset it and maybe it forces plenty of moisture through the cut surface too  to keep cutting going too.

[goodlife]

Code: [Select]

Interesting choice using determinates
Well...it was mainly because I had best matching (by size) material with those varieties....and then I thought...those 2 varieties being better for outdoor cultivation and potatoes being happiest in ground too..perhaps it will work well?!
Should I strike lucky with the cuttings...I shall try growing some in buckets and some planted in ground...like a proper trial 
First time I used those clips..I have had them stashed away for some time but never got round to playing with crafting...so I'm pleased you started me on with this.
I'm just looking to get some more.....maybe it will be something I shall do more in future..
Btw..saw some crafted cucumber plants in garden centre....now I wonder what kind of rootstock they've used with those....any ideas?

[chriscross1966]

Can I offer some tips from having done one of these as a novelty many moons ago for a show entry....

1: If the graft hasn't taken inside a couple of weeks or so then the top is probably going to die, you will still get a potato out of it...
2: Well done on choosing an outdoor tomato, II found my most successful (way back in the day) was VF Roma, an outdoor bush italian...
3: Feed it heavily, you have created a monster to match Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors.
4: You might well have to deal with other potato stalks coming through.... I'd try and remove them you'll get fewer, bigger, potatoes.
5: Feed it some more
6: Don't earth up above the grafting point, I found that if I did it grew basically as a tomato with a rocket up its arse, it watered itself through roots that grew from the tomato stem and just fed off the potato..
7: It still wants feeding
8: No really, get busy with the MiracleGro....

[goodlife]

Can I offer some tips from having done one of these as a novelty many moons ago for a show entry....

1: If the graft hasn't taken inside a week or so the top is probably going to die, you will still get a potato out of it...

Ah yes...nothing wasted
...would hate to pay lot of money for pomato plants and then they turn out to be waste of space. At least now I've just used 'stuff' that I already had spare.
So.....Chris....all those 'moons ago'...how did you do with your show entry?

[goodlife]

Btw...anybody looking to buy some grafting clips...you can get 50 for under £3 from ebay, with FREE delivery included... ...'good old' Chinese..they sell absolutely anything and everything cheap.
Too good to be true....?...time will tell as I ordered some..don't know what I will need 50 for..

[chriscross1966]

Btw...anybody looking to buy some grafting clips...you can get 50 for under £3 from ebay, with FREE delivery included... ...'good old' Chinese..they sell absolutely anything and everything cheap.
Too good to be true....?...time will tell as I ordered some..don't know what I will need 50 for..

Didn't place, Abingdon show back then was quite big (it was nearly 20 years ago)..... it was horrifying how greedy that plant was, and it wasn't massively productive.... wish I had a photo, but the only ones I had also had me in it so I haven't kept any (I used to hate being in pictures and made a serious effort to destroy all the photos in existance of me, I still don't like being photographed but have at least stopped destroying negatives...

[goodlife]

Can I offer some tips from having done one of these as a novelty many moons ago for a show entry....

1: If the graft hasn't taken inside a couple of weeks or so then the top is probably going to die, you will still get a potato out of it...
2: Well done on choosing an outdoor tomato, II found my most successful (way back in the day) was VF Roma, an outdoor bush italian...
3: Feed it heavily, you have created a monster to match Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors.
4: You might well have to deal with other potato stalks coming through.... I'd try and remove them you'll get fewer, bigger, potatoes.
5: Feed it some more
6: Don't earth up above the grafting point, I found that if I did it grew basically as a tomato with a rocket up its arse, it watered itself through roots that grew from the tomato stem and just fed off the potato..
7: It still wants feeding
8: No really, get busy with the MiracleGro....

I was wondering about 'what if the tops get rooted too situation'...would it be advantage in case the potato 'thinks' its done its deed but the tomato would still want to carry on... ...'rocket fuelled arse tomato' sounds tempting..
Lol....must remember to make some more fertilizer...