An Oregon seed company is unveiling a new nightshade to accompany your summer barbecues. 
 
 The "Ketchup 'n' Fries" is a hybrid of tomato and potato plants. The roots of the TomTato are thin-skinned white potatoes attached to a vine of red cherry tomatoes. The plant was released in the United Kingdom this year. 
 
 The Territorial Seed Company in Cottage Grove is selling the TomTato in its 2015 seed catalog as a way for home gardeners to maximize use of limited space. Instead of planting potatoes and tomatoes in separate areas, the company's literature for the TomTato advises that the plant can grow in a 10-gallon container. 
 
 The plant was created by SuperNaturals Grafted Vegetables using grafting -- not to be confusing with genetic engineering. The tomatoes were chosen for the qualities the breeders wanted and then spliced onto potato rootstock. Since both potatoes and tomatoes are fairly closely related, they graft well together. 
 
 Now, if only somehow they could incorporate the hamburger patties... 
 
 -- Molly Harbarger ||||| Thompson & Morgan 
 
 A Western Oregon mail order company has begun selling what might become the No. 1 conversation starter of Northwest garden parties this summer. 
 
 It’s a grafted vegetable plant that produces potatoes and tomatoes at the same time. 
 
 Cottage Grove, Oregon-based wholesale nursery Log House Plants licensed the dual tomato-potato from Europe. It is distributing to independent garden centers and through the Territorial Seed Company mail order firm. A video shows how the combo plant yields cherry tomatoes above ground and spuds below ground. 
 
 “Each plant is grafted by hand to ensure that unique double cropping,” the narrator says in the video. 
 
 So it’s not a miracle of genetic engineering, but rather a simple graft of the top of one plant onto the rootstock of the other one. 
 
 The reason this works is that potatoes and tomatoes are closely related. The grafted plant first yields lots of cherry tomatoes and when that winds down, puts its energy into maturing its potatoes. 
 
 Grafting can be done at home, but requires skill and practice. In this case, the tomato stem and potato stem need to have the same thickness. The graft entails making a clean cut of both plant stems and then taping two ends together until they heal. 
 
 The British mail order nursery that commercialized the combo plant dubbed it the TomTato, also known as “Ketchup ‘n’ Fries.” An imitator in New Zealand called its version the Potato Tom. 
 
 “People have been grafting tomatoes and potatoes for a while, but mostly as a novelty,” said Territorial Seed Company marketing director Tim Russell. Prior to commercialization, he said research was needed “to find a variety of potato and tomato that complement each other well.” 
 
 Russell said the unusual combo plant generated “lots of comments and buzz” almost from the moment it appeared in his company’s 2015 catalog and was promoted via Facebook. “People are excited,” Russell observed. ||||| What is a Grafted Plant? 
 
 Grafted vegetables are created when the top part of one plant (the scion) is attached to the root system of a separate plant (the rootstock). The rootstock contributes vigor and disease resistance while the scion is chosen for fruit flavor and quality. Grafting has been used in agriculture for centuries to improve plant health and yield (fruit trees and grape vines are two familiar examples). Grafted vegetables are currently widespread in Asia and Europe among produce growers and are gaining popularity in the US, especially with organic farmers. Our plants are grafted by hand in a unique, carefully controlled environment using innovative methods recently developed here in Oregon. 
 
 
 
 Grafted vegetables help solve common garden problems. Vigorous rootstock enables more effective uptake of water and nutrients, and increases plants' resistance to pests or disease and tolerance to temperature extremes and drought. This allows commercial growers — and now home gardeners — to plant earlier and harvest longer. Healthier, stronger plants also mean greatly reduced pesticide use and more yield. With grafted tomato plants, even gardeners in challenging climates can enjoy ample harvests of America's favorite garden crop. 
 
 
 
 Grafted plants are drop-dead gorgeous 
 
 Statuesque, strong, and loaded with flowers and fruit, they remain beautifully healthy and disease-resistant when the same non-grafted varieties oftentimes struggle. 
 
 
 
 Benefits of Grafted plants over non-grafted plants 
 
 • Better quality crops and increased fruit production 
 
 • Increased water and nutrient uptake 
 
 • Extended harvests 
 
 • Increased disease resistance including resistance to early and late blight and blossom end rot in tomatoes 
 
 • Increased overall plant vigor 
 
 • Increased tolerance to environmental stresses (extremes in heat and cold, salinity, etc.) 
 
 
 
 Our plants are available individually in 2 1/4 inch pots! At Territorial you don't have to buy 6 plants of each variety. You can mix and match your plants just the way you want. 
 
 
 
 When you order our transplants, you will receive the same quality and selection that our customers have learned to expect at our retail store. For gardeners who are pressed for time or prefer to have Territorial start their plants, our selection of vegetables, flowers, and herbs is an easy and economical way to fill your garden with summer goodness. Plants are available individually. For the best shipping value, order any combination of 6 plants. 
 
 
 
 Ship Codes 
 
 (A) Ships first half of April-Order Must Be Received By: March 1 
 
 (B) Ships last half of April-Order Must Be Received By: March 15 
 
 (C) Ships first half of May-Order Must Be Received By: April 1 
 
 (D) Ships last half of May-Order Must Be Received By: May 1 
 
 • We reserve the right to alter the shipping dates due to weather. 
 
 • Remember, plants are living things and don't always follow schedules! 
 
 • We do our best to ship strong, healthy plants right to your door on time. 
 
 
 
 Perfect Delivery Guarantee 
 
 • We guarantee your plants will arrive in perfect condition at the physical street address given on your order. Sorry, we cannot guarantee orders for which we are given an incorrect address. 
 
 • Plants are shipped Monday through Wednesday and arrive at your door Thursday or Friday of the same week. They are not scheduled for transit over a weekend. 
 
 
 
 Important Reminders When Ordering Plants From the Catalog 
 
 • Use the Plant Order Form located in the center of the catalog 
 
 • Choose a Ship Code 
 
 • Include a physical street address because plants are shipped Fedex 
 
 • Plants are available only within the contiguous US 
 
 
 
 Before shipping, each transplant is hardened-off in the crisp night air of our short season farm. When they arrive at your door, they're ready for your garden. One plant per pot. 
 
 
 
 Be sure to open your box immediately upon receipt 
 
 Upon opening the box you may notice that some of the plants appear wilted. This should not harm the plants. Water the pots and place them in a partially sunny location. If you can't plant them outside immediately, you may want to pot them into a larger container. 
 
 Because of the different growth rates of some of the varieties, you may see a difference in sizes. 
 
 Plants are shipped Monday through Wednesday and arrive at your door Thursday, Friday, or Saturday of the same week. If the box arrives after the weekend or is damaged, please call Customer Service immediately at: 800-626-0866. 
 
 
 
 If your shipment is not complete, please refer to your invoice for information regarding backorders or product that is sold out for the season. 
 
 Write a Review 
 
 
 
 Great tomatoes-no potatoes Jan 20, 2018 | By Tom Grudowski Ugh Aug 7, 2016 | By Don cousin vinnie says May 31, 2016 | By vincent ragucci Worth every penny Apr 7, 2016 | By Maureen Don't buy Mar 10, 2016 | By Ellen Kennedy No Potatoes Jan 25, 2016 | By Meghan ketchup and fries Jan 4, 2016 | By jim docktor Disappointing Jan 3, 2016 | By Kelli Ketchup and fries Nov 1, 2015 | By Marci Fun in the Garden Oct 9, 2015 | By Melissa Gimicky, not worth the $$ Oct 2, 2015 | By Kim Produces Overtime Aug 20, 2015 | By Michele Machholz WooHoo Aug 5, 2015 | By Carol Weinstock WOW Jul 14, 2015 | By pam Overall Rating: ||||| >> Stephen: WELCOME BACK,EVERYBODY. 
 
 NATION, NATION, I DON'TTRUST VEGETABLES. 
 
 YOU ALWAYS SEE THEM GROWINGBUT YOU NEVER SEE THEM EAT. 
 
 WHAT'S UP. 
 
 SO WHEN I CARVE PUMPKINSIT'S NOT FOR HALLOWEEN, IT'S 
 
 A WARNING. 
 
 THIS IS WHAT I DO TO YOU. 
 
 AND THIS VEGE-TERROR IS ONLYGETTING WORSE BECAUSE THERE 
 
 A NEW CROP OUT OF ENGLANDAND IT MIGHT BE THE CRAZIEST 
 
 [BLEEP] THING I'VE EVERHEARD. 
 
 >> WARNING, FOLKS, WHAT YOUARE ABOUT TO SEE MAY CAUSE 
 
 YOU TO BURGLARIZE YOURPANTS. 
 
 JIM. 
 
 >> IT'S A PLANT WHICHPRODUCES BOTH TOMATOES AND 
 
 POTATO. 
 
 >> ABOVE THE GROUND YOU CANHARVEST UP TO 500 CHEREE 
 
 SIZED TOMATOES BUT THAT'SNOT ALL. 
 
 BELOW THE GROUND YOU CANHARVEST YOUR OWN CROP OF 
 
 DELICIOUS WHITE POTATOES. 
 
 >> Stephen: THAT'S UNNATURAL. 
 
 THE ONLY TIME TOMATOES ANDPOTATO SHOULD MEET IS AT THE 
 
 BOTTOM OF A STYROFOAM CLAMSHELL. 
 
 BESIDES IT'S DISGUSTING. 
 
 WITHOUT WOULD WANT A POTATOTHAT COMES OUT OF THE GROUND, 
 
 IT'S FILTHY. 
 
 AND VEGETABLES SHOULD NOT BEMATING WITH OTHER SPECIES. 
 
 THIS IS MIS-VEG NATION, IT'SADAM AND EVE, NOT ADAM AND 
 
 ENDIVE. 
 
 AND JUST LISTEN, LISTEN HOWTHESE MAD BOT ANNISES 
 
 CREATED THEIR VEGETABLEMEDLEY. 
 
 >> THE INVENTOR PLANT ISBEING CREATED USING A 
 
 GRAFTING PROCESS, BY TAPINGTHE ENDS OF TWO PLANTSING 
 
 TO. 
 
 IT WORKED IN THIS CASEBECAUSE TOMATOES ARE MEMBERS 
 
 OF THE POTATO FAMILY, SOTHEY ARE NATURALLY 
 
 COMPATIBLE. 
 
 >> TOMATO AND POTATO PLANTSTAPED END-TO-END. 
 
 THROW A TURN I IN THERE ANDYOU CAN STITCH TOGETHER THE 
 
 VEGETABLE CENTIPEDE. 
 
 AND THE NAME, WAIT A SECOND,TOM-TATO, WHERE DID THEY GET 
 
 THAT NAME, IT'S HALF POTATOAND HALF TOMATO, IT SHOULD 
 
 BE CALLED THE POTE-AT THATTIMEO. 
 
 WHATEVER, YOU SAY POTATO ASAY TOE MATHO. 
 
 >> YOU SAY TOMORROW-TOMTATO. 
 
 THAT'S THE CRAZIEST [BLEEP]THING I'VE EVER HEARD. ||||| American grafting leaders SuperNaturals Grafted Vegetables, LLC (creators of the Mighty ‘Mato brand) have brought Burbank’s vision to reality with the release of Ketchup ‘n’ Fries by TomTato®. For the first time, specialty hand-grafted plants are being offered to American gardeners in the 2015 growing season! This recent effort has been in the works for over 15 years in Europe was released into the British market as TomTato® in 2014. Plug Connection in San Diego County holds the exclusive production rights for starter plants that will be shipped to growers all over North America. Look for Ketchup ‘n’ Fries™ at GardenAmerica, Territorial and garden centers this spring. 
 
 Read all about this amazing new plant in our Press Releases (SuperNaturals and Territorial); or watch the Colbert video: 
 
 And this clip is from Good Morning America:
– Tomatoes and potatoes go together like, well, ketchup and fries—so why not grow them together? A hybrid plant known as the "TomTato" or, yes, "Ketchup 'n' Fries," allows you to do just that, and it's now available in the US after first being released in the UK. The plant combines a vine growing cherry tomatoes with roots growing white potatoes—but it's not genetically engineered. Rather, it's created by grafting, in which the tomatoes are "spliced onto potato rootstock," the Oregonian explains, noting the process works well for tomatoes and potatoes because they are closely related. Technically, you could try to do it at home, but it requires the plant stems you're joining be the same thickness. SuperNaturals Grafted Vegetables is the company handling the grafting process in the US, and home gardeners can purchase the non-GMO plant in a 2.5-inch pot from the Territorial Seed Company. "People have been grafting tomatoes and potatoes for a while, but mostly as a novelty," Territorial's marketing director tells OPB, noting that before this plant was commercialized, it was necessary to research varieties to find ones that "complement each other well." Now, purchasers can expect to harvest some 500 red cherry tomatoes and 4.5 pounds of potatoes from each plant. Back in 2013 when the plant was only available in the UK, Stephen Colbert featured it on his "The Craziest F#?ing Thing I've Ever Heard" segment, calling it "unnatural" and noting, "The only time tomatoes and potatoes should meet is at the bottom of a Styrofoam clamshell." (Read about a tree that grows 40 different fruits.)