How? With an innovation Tharfield Nursery, Katikati, is marketing nationwide in what it believes is a world first commercialisation. The Western Bay of Plenty operation has grafted thousands of Gardeners Delight tomato plants onto Agria potatoes to create the POTATO TOM, a trademarked seedling it is distributing under its incredible edibles brand. “It will produce a great yield of potatoes and tomatoes,” says nursery general manager, Andrew Boylan. While the idea of grafting a tomato with a potato is not new this could be the first time anyone has successfully developed this combination at a commercial level globally, he adds. “We know that no one in New Zealand or Australia has done this before [and] can’t find any evidence that it has been done in other markets around the world.” Partner Fiona Boylan told Rural News there’s no real compromise in yield of either crop, the only point to note is the plant shouldn’t be earthed up like a conventional potato. The seedlings will be sold in one litre pots through most major retailers that have garden departments from late September, she says. How much they will cost she can’t say as that will be down to the retailers.
