SEE THE WONDERS OF THE POMATO PLANT

SEE THE WONDERS OF THE POMATO PLANT

Have you ever heard of a tomato plant on top that grows potatoes in its roots? Yes, you heard that right. It is called a Pomato—a plant that gives you cherry tomatoes above ground and potatoes below ground. Imagine harvesting two crops from just one plant. Isn’t that a wonder of science and ingenuity?

The Pomato is not a freak of nature. It does not grow in the wild. Rather, it is created by grafting—a method where the stem of a tomato plant is joined with the rootstock of a potato plant. Since both belong to the nightshade family (Solanaceae), they are naturally compatible. Once the graft heals, the tomato leaves provide food for the potato roots.

To be clear, this is not a genetically modified organism (GMO). It is simply clever horticulture. In fact, similar grafting techniques have been practiced for centuries in fruit trees. What’s new here is that instead of getting one kind of fruit, you get two very different staple crops in one pot.

Now here’s the good news: Pomatoes can be grown in pots, making them an excellent crop for urban agriculture and even for vertical farming. For those living in cramped apartments in Metro Manila or Cebu, you could grow a Pomato on your balcony. Tomatoes can even be raised in aquaponic systems, opening up more ways to cultivate food in limited spaces.

Why Pomato Matters for the Philippines

I have long advocated that we should diversify our staple foods. We are too dependent on rice. Every year, the government struggles with rice supply, importing hundreds of thousands of metric tons to cover shortages. This dependence makes us vulnerable to climate change, global price shocks, and even geopolitics.

What if we looked seriously at alternatives? Potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, and taro are all potential substitutes. If we could popularize the Pomato, we would not only introduce potatoes as an everyday staple but also ensure that tomatoes—one of the most versatile cooking ingredients—are readily available. Think about it: even without rice, you could still enjoy french fries, mashed potatoes, or baked potatoes alongside your favorite ulam.

The Benefits and the Caveats

Pomato plants offer dual harvests: tomatoes in the summer and potatoes in the early autumn. They save space and resources, which is especially valuable in urban settings. They also serve as a great educational tool—imagine teaching schoolchildren about plant grafting and food sustainability using a single Pomato pot.

But there are trade-offs. Since the plant is splitting its energy between two crops, yields of both tomatoes and potatoes may be lower compared to growing each separately. The plant is also a heavy feeder, needing more water and fertilizer to keep both crops healthy. And because the Pomato is a grafted plant, it cannot be grown from true seeds—you either need to graft it yourself or buy it pre-grafted.

The encouraging news is that Pomato plants (sometimes marketed as “TomTato” or “Ketchup ‘n’ Fries” plants) are already available commercially, even in the Philippines through online sellers. Alternatively, gardeners can graft their own by combining locally available tomato and potato varieties.

A Question of Policy and Practice

Here’s my suggestion: why not let the Department of Agriculture (DA) or the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) support urban Pomato pilot projects? Barangays could distribute Pomato plants to households as part of food security programs. Schools could adopt them for gardening projects. Even overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning home might bring this idea to their local communities.

I can already imagine vertical farms in Quezon City or rooftop gardens in Makati filled with Pomato plants, supplying both potatoes and tomatoes to local markets. A single innovation like this could nudge us toward greater food independence.

Beyond Rice: A National Conversation

Let me emphasize this point again: we need to reduce our obsession with rice. For centuries, Filipinos have enjoyed root crops as staples. Cassava kept families alive during wartime. Camote (sweet potato) and gabi (taro) remain part of our culinary tradition. Why not revive and modernize these habits? With science and creativity, we can even create hybrids like the Pomato to help meet our nutritional needs.

At the end of the day, the Pomato is more than a quirky plant—it is a symbol of possibility. It challenges us to rethink how we grow food, what we eat, and how we can design a food system that is more resilient and sustainable.

So, the next time someone asks what’s for dinner, you could say: “French fries and tomato salad.” And all of it could come from just one plant sitting in a pot by your window.

Now, wouldn’t that be something?

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, senseneres.blogspot.com 

12-18-2025 

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