Pomidofel: description and characteristics of the hybrid with photos, grafting rules, care, reviews

What is a tomato?

Tomato is a hybrid vegetable that combines the properties of tomato and potato. It is characterized by potato tubers, and the tops are replaced by tomato fruits, usually cherry varieties. Tomatoes hit the mass market in 2013, when scientists from the famous British company Thompson and Morgan presented seedlings of an unusual plant. The new product was given the original name TomTato - a shortened version of the words tomato (tomato) and potato (potato).

Attempts to cross two plants—tomato and potato—had been made before, but were not so successful. American breeder Luther Burbank (1849-1926) developed a potato variety with yellow tubers, as well as fruits that were equivalent to tomatoes in taste, aroma and structure. In the 30s of the 20th century, pensioner N.V. Brusentsov, who lived in the Moscow region, managed to graft tomatoes onto potatoes. This is how a vegetative hybrid of the plant appeared, called Dwarf Brusentsov.

In 1977, a similar experiment was carried out in the German city of Tübingen, at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology.

Copulation

Tomatoes are grafted onto potatoes using the copulation method (or grafting by cuttings). Grafting in this way is the most common option for propagating shrubs. The popularity of this method lies in the fact that it is suitable for grafting thin rootstocks and scions, which is what a tomato seedling is.

Note: copulation is a method of connecting two seedlings of the same size, which are applied to each other by cutting.

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Yes, initially we do not have a rootstock, since the potato bush first needs to be well sprouted. To do this, in early April, potato tubers are sown in a seedling box in a well-fertilized soil mixture consisting of peat, humus and soil in equal parts. Potato seedlings must grow at least 10-15 centimeters, only then the bush can serve as the base of a hybrid plant.

Note! Grafting herbaceous plants is difficult because there are no nutrient reserves in their stems. Water and carbohydrates are consumed much more actively.

Advantages and disadvantages of a grafted plant

The hybrid plant variety has undeniable advantages, but it is not without its disadvantages, which are important to consider.

The main advantages of pomidofel are:

saving space on a plot of land due to the simultaneous growth of two crops on the same area;
exclusivity of the plant and high value among gardeners;
productivity of both crops;
long storage;
good taste of fruits of both types;
adaptation in any climatic conditions;
resistance to pests.

Disadvantages include:

the high cost of tomato seedlings due to the complexity of crossing crops;
the need to use large volumes of fertilizers to form the yield of both plant crops;
the possibility of obtaining a hybrid plant exclusively by grafting the root system of a potato and a tomato stem.

How to harvest?

Experiments conducted by scientists, the cultivation of TomTato by many gardeners around the world, and the practice of Russian summer residents have shown that the grafted plant develops well and is highly resistant to various diseases and insect pests that affect potatoes and tomatoes. Most often they are overcome by the Colorado potato beetle and late blight, to combat which it is necessary to promptly apply special pest control agents.

Even when the first experiments were carried out, some scientists feared that the corned beef contained in potato tops, a highly toxic enzyme, would penetrate into tomato berries, which would negatively affect their taste. Fortunately, this doesn't happen. The corned beef content in tomatoes does not exceed the norm, the fruits are absolutely non-toxic, have a pleasant taste and aroma.

Harvesting is carried out as usual: tomatoes are picked as they ripen (redden), and tubers are dug up when they reach technical maturity, in late August - early September, depending on the region of cultivation.

How to successfully combine tomato and potato?

The process of obtaining a hybrid consists of several stages:

Growing tomato and potato seedlings separately.
Performing correct vaccinations.
Planting plants in a greenhouse or open ground after 7-10 days.
Removing the bandages from the vaccination sites (after another week).
Hilling up the plant using agricultural technology used for processing tomato bushes.

It is necessary to take into account the requirements for seedlings:

the thickness of the stems is at least 5 millimeters (for potatoes, a little thicker is allowed);
you need to sow tomato seeds and germinate potato tubers 1-1.5 months before grafting and 2-2.5 months before planting.

Required Tools

To work on creating a hybrid, you need to prepare the following tools:

a blade or a very thin construction knife, previously cleaned with alcohol;
a wooden stick used as a support for the grafted crop;
cling film tape (it can be replaced with foil or a special clip for plants);
glass jar filled with water.

Landing in the ground

Usually it takes about 2 weeks for the grafting site to heal (with ablactation - a little less). During this time, especially at the initial stage, the tomato top withers slightly. After 1-1.5 weeks, if the process was successful, it will “become more cheerful” and begin to grow, new leaves will begin to appear on it. At this stage, the young tomato plant can be planted in open ground.

But even after this, the plant will continue to require increased attention. You need to make sure that it does not get too cold, does not suffer from the bright sun, remove weeds in a timely manner, loosen the soil, water regularly, and apply organic and mineral fertilizers.

Over time, the bandage can be removed. About a month after planting in a permanent place, the tomato will begin to bloom, after which fruits will form on it, and tubers will form under the surface of the soil.

Vaccination methods

It is necessary to consider the available methods of plant grafting in order to choose the optimal one.

Copulation

This method is intended for grafting stems of the same diameter. In this case, the tomato needs to be cut as close to the roots as possible, and the potatoes a little higher, in the thinnest part of the trunk.

The cuts should be made obliquely and pass through the core of the stems. For proper alignment, they must be the same size. On each of the stems you need to make tongues at a distance of 1/3 from the edge of the cut. When connecting parts of plants, they should overlap each other.

Improved copulation ensures a high probability of survival due to the maximum contact area of the grafted plant parts. They must be secured with a clip, tape or foil.

Grafting into clefts

The simplest and most common method is called splinter grafting. The top part of the potato bush is cut off completely, and the tomato is cut off slightly above the root or the first two leaves. The tip should be sharpened on both sides and placed in a jar of water. Then make a split on the rootstock corresponding to the size of the wedge-shaped cut of the scion - 1-1.2 centimeters. After this, insert the scion into the rootstock and secure the connection with film, foil or a clip. Tie the grafted plant to a wooden stick previously fixed in the soil.

Ablactation with tongue

The ablation method with a tongue means connecting two bushes without cutting off the rhizome. Plants must be placed as close to each other as possible to prevent damage during grafting.

The rootstock must be carefully cut with a sharp knife from bottom to top, and the scion from top to bottom. In this case, the length of the cut should be approximately a third or a quarter of the total thickness of the stem. Stems with cuts need to be connected by inserting the tongues into one another.

When ablated, the plant feeds on two roots, which has a beneficial effect on survival rate.

Pros and cons of vaccinations

The cost of seedlings is quite high, because the company is the absolute “owner” of the market, and the demand for the miracle plant is constantly growing. It is believed that it is almost impossible to vaccinate at home. However, Russian gardeners successfully repeat the experience, because the results allow them to obtain several advantages at once:

by growing two different types of vegetables on one bush, space in the beds is saved;
all the beneficial properties of each vegetable are preserved and the taste does not suffer;
fruits and tubers are smaller in size, but their total volume remains at the same level;
the opportunity to grow an original, exotic plant on your site that your neighbors don’t have.

Of course, there are a number of disadvantages that you will have to come to terms with:

It will not be possible to collect seed material from the plant; seedlings are obtained only by grafting, and the first 2-3 weeks after this the plants require careful care and constant attention;
not all vaccinations are successful; some plants will inevitably die until the gardener adapts to the peculiarities of this agricultural technique;
nutrients are distributed unevenly throughout the fruits, so that “there is enough food for everyone” you will have to repeatedly apply fertilizers to the soil.

Caring for potatoes after

Adaptation of tomatoes from the moment of grafting lasts about two weeks. After this, the resulting hybrid can be transplanted into open ground:

To make it easier to remove the plant from the pot, moisten the soil.
Dig holes on the plot of land.
Add 50 grams of wood ash and 5 grams of saltpeter to the holes.
Move the bushes into the holes, sprinkle with soil, water and cover with agrofibre.
After a week, remove the agrofibre and film securing the cut.

Slice processing

To treat the cut of the grafted plant, you should use a garden varnish. You can prepare it by mixing wax, propolis, rosin and turpentine in proportions 3:2:6:1. Melt the wax with propolis over low heat, add crushed rosin, stir and bring to a boil. After waiting for it to cool, add turpentine and mix again. Proper processing of sections will provide protection against diseases.

Watering

The frequency of watering tomatoes depends on climatic conditions. Immediately after planting, watering is not required, since the soil contains enough moisture in the spring.

Top dressing

Fertilizers for a grafted hybrid should be applied three times during the season. The first fertilizing containing nitrogen and potassium is carried out during planting. The second is during the appearance of buds and flowers - for this you need to dilute 20 grams of superphosphate in 10 liters of water. Pour 2 liters of the prepared solution under the roots of each bush. The third feeding is necessary during fruit set. To do this, you need to dilute 20 grams of superphosphate and potassium sulfate in 10 liters of water.

Loosening and mulching the soil

Regular loosening will prevent the formation of weeds, eliminate soil crust and protect against excessive evaporation. It has a positive effect on the condition of the roots, as it promotes the penetration of oxygen and warm air into the soil layers. The soil should be loosened every 7-10 days.

Mulching with peat, sawdust, straw or perforated synthetic film reduces moisture evaporation and protects against weeds. However, this method is not used when the groundwater level is high.

Is it necessary to spud?

The hilling procedure is optional, but desirable, as it strengthens the root system and protects the stems from adverse effects. It is recommended to hill up the bushes 2-3 days after rain, when the soil is most pliable and loose. It is best to perform the procedure in cloudy weather in the morning or evening.

Growing

It is impossible to plant Pomidofel with seeds on the plot, since the hybrid is grown only by grafting. When the stems of potato and tomato seedlings reach a thickness of 0.5 cm, grafting can be carried out. The length of the cuts should exceed the thickness of the stems by more than 4 times. Each shoot must be grafted by making splits on the stem sections and connecting them to each other, avoiding temporary drying. Then the shoots need to be tied at the junction with a bactericidal bandage and left in a dark place for several days.

Before planting seedlings, you need to first moisten the soil and the plants themselves. 7–9 days after grafting the stems, you need to plant the crop in the ground under covering material or bags. After another week, you can remove the bandage from the junction of the stems. If the seedlings have not grown well together, the tying material should be left for a few more days.

The nuances of harvesting tomatoes and potatoes

From one tomato bush you can get about 6 kg of tomatoes and 3 kg of potato tubers. Tomatoes grow within a few months after planting. You can find out about the appearance of young potato roots by slightly loosening the soil.

The fruits of both plants have an attractive presentation and good shelf life, so they can be stored for a long period. A refrigerator, shelves or drawers are suitable for this.

Important conditions are minimal lighting and cool air.

Lemon tomatoes (lemon + tomato)

Israeli scientists claim that they are the only ones in the world who managed to develop lemon tomatoes, and even with the scent of roses. The fruits turned out to be a delicate pink color, because they contain less lycopene than standard fruits. Horticultural scientists have also found that these tomatoes are stored better and longer than conventional varietal ones. Israeli scientists are not going to stop there; they want to add other varieties with original tastes and aromas to Lemato.

There are several questionable details in this story:

How can you cross a lemon from the Rutaceae family and a tomato from the Solanaceae family?
How can a smell or color indicate that a genetically new plant has been bred?

Lemon tomatoes. The illustration for the article is used from the site semenaorg.ru

Lemato also costs a lot of money. Since it is stated that unique genetic developments and innovations were used to breed the vegetable. But which ones are not specifically stated anywhere.

Is it possible to grow tomatoes at home?

Yes, you can. The plant can be grown not only in open ground. To grow at home, you need to choose a deep container with a volume of at least 40 kg and a diameter of at least 50 cm.

How are varieties and hybrids of vegetable plants created in Russia? More details

Is it possible to grow tomatoes from seeds?

The plant does not occur naturally and cannot be grown from seed because its two parts remain genetically separate and depend on each other only for nutrition and growth.

Tomato plants grow in exactly one growing season. It is obtained by grafting. A small cut is made on the stem, and thus the plants are connected. Once the cuts have healed and the plants are united, cut off the top of the potato leaf and remove the tomato roots, leaving the tomato leaves to feed the potato roots. The cost of a plant to grow starts from £14.99, or $24.

How vaccines work

Vaccines contain weakened or inactive parts of the pathogen (antigens). Modern vaccines use predominantly synthetic (artificially created) antigens. Without containing a full-fledged live pathogen, vaccines cannot cause the disease itself, but they trigger the production of specific antibodies in the same way as the pathogen itself would do. The immune system will react in the same way as if it were initial contact with a real pathogen.

To obtain a sustained immune response, a vaccination schedule with multiple doses administered at long intervals (several weeks or months) is often used. This pattern is necessary for the production of long-lived antibodies and the development of memory cells. The body accumulates a memory of the pathogen so that if it comes into contact with it in the future, it will be able to immediately fight and destroy it.