Spuds and aubergines from the same plant!
FIRST came the TomTato, the plant that let you produce your own chips and tomato ketchup from the same pot.
Now scientists have come up with another horticultural hybrid – the ‘Egg and Chips’ plant, which sprouts aubergines above ground and potatoes below.
Soon to go on sale in Britain, it means those without the room for their own vegetable plot can produce a bumper crop from just a pot on the patio.
Experts carefully cut and grafted the stem of the aubergine – also known as the egg plant – to the lower end of a potato plant stem and then left the two to grow naturally.
On a good crop, gardeners can expect a batch of succulent purple aubergines and almost five pounds of potatoes.
Horticulturists say the hardy potato plant supports the more delicate Mediterranean aubergine far better than its own root system can in British soil. The half-hardy annuals are being sold by Ipswich-based seed company Thompson & Morgan, who also launched the TomTato – a tomato and potato hybrid – in 2013.
All three vegetables belong to the same plant family, known as the Solanaceae or nightshade, making it easier for the grafts to take.
Product development manager Michael Perry said: ‘For those without the luxury of an allotment or large vegetable patch it makes the most of available space in the garden. Even the smallest patio or balcony can accommodate a pot-grown egg and chips plant.’
The plants, sold in 9cm pots, can be bought via mail order for £14.99 each and will be despatched from April.