Berries/tomatoes on potato plants?!

[Sfraker]

I have grown potatoes for many, many years. This year I have a few of my potato plants growing berries or mini tomatoes!? Have I simply missed this in the past or is this normal? The plants flowered then started growing these. Sorry they are blurry, I was having a tough time getting my phone to focus.

I bought the same potatoes I normally buy for planting. They are in the same bed as last year. The only thing I did different was to plant some carrots in the same bed. I know potatoes, tomatoes and night shade are related and these do look like either mini tomatoes or giant nightshade berries.

 

[duluthralphie]

I had them a couple years ago, it happens.

They have a name and I have forgotten it. They were a seed or seed pod, I think. I do recall reading they were poison. I think if I recall they would grow into plants but they are not as productive.

 

[lazy gardener]

Interesting, Duluth regarding them producing plants. I think some varieties are more prone to this than others. I wonder if it affects tuber production?

 

[duluthralphie]

Interesting, Duluth regarding them producing plants. I think some varieties are more prone to this than others. I wonder if it affects tuber production?

It did not seem to on my plants, BUT that is purely a guess on my part.



As I recall it was sexual reproduction of a potato versus asexual reproduction with the tubers, which is why the "seed" plants were not as good. I know I asked everyone I could and researched like crazy when my potatoes had them. I had never seen or heard of them in my life. Which has been a lot longer than I like to think it has been.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes they are seed pods. You can plant the seeds and get potato plants, but since it is sexual reproduction, there is no telling what kind of potato you would get. It could be fun to dry them and plant them to see what you get, but the chances are you will be very disappointed. Just treat them like you would tomato seeds if you have ever saved those.

They should not harm the productivity of the plant they are growing on. The plant will divert a little energy to grow the seeds but it really is insignificant. You will not notice a difference.

 

[lazy gardener]

Might be a fun experiment to try some cross pollination. If they reproduce the way tomatoes do, I'm guessing you'd have to use a paint brush to cross them.

 

[Sfraker]

I may save them and plant them. I am one who likes to let things go to seed or plant seeds from odd things to see what happens. The potato seed falls into the off things category.
I have 9 raised beds at 4' x 8'. The challenge will be where to fit them in next year! I seem to keep adding beds and still not having enough space. LOL!

 

[HeritageGoose13]

If you were to eat them, you would die. Very deadly poisonous.

You could plant them and see if they make potatoes though.

 

[copper2]

There called tps( true potato seed) try planting them the offspring might not come true but you can save the tubers of your favorite mixes and grow the tubers and name your own new varity