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Hello all can anyone tell me why potato plants grow what look like tomatoes on them and what are they for ????

By robin32 on 09 August 09 in Growing | Report misuse

3 Responses

  • Really don't eat them, previous poster is correct they are poisonous. Could get a new variety, been very wet so many varieties started to die off and were then revived. This often triggers flower and fruit as plant thought it was dying!

    By helpers2447 on 09 August 09 | Report misuse

  • These are the seed pods on the plant, as they are related to tomatoes; they will germinate when ripe and form new plants, but these plants may not be the same as the variety of potato planted, it can be a through back to the original parent plant from which the variety was cultivated from.
    They are poisonous so wash hands after touching them.
    Not all varieties form these, Cara Pinks produce a lot. I have to plough these small plants in after a potato harvest, larger enterprises use roundup.

    By Rory Coxhill on 09 August 09 | Report misuse

  • never seen this myself ... my potato plants always die down before they get to this stage, shortly after they flower .... but it IS interesting. Could it because potatoes and tomatoes are of the same plant family (along with aubergines, peppers and the fatally poisonous Deadly Nightshade) - so it is maybe natural for the fruit (and flowers) to look similar? Wouldn't try eating them though ..... This is a guess, mind. I don't really know - anyone else got any answers?

    By PenzanceLisa on 09 August 09 | Report misuse

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