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green cherry-tomato-like balls on potato plants #808301

Asked August 27, 2022, 5:26 PM EDT

A few of our potato plants have small green balls that formed where the blossoms were, after they bloomed. We took a picture after we cut one open, and it was filled with seeds. Is that one of the ways a potato plant goes to seed, besides producing potatoes underground? We've had this in the past on some of our potato plants and are curious what they are. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Itasca County Minnesota

Expert Response

What you have found and described are potato fruits.  These are produced occasionally and they occur more often on some potato varieties than others.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_are_those_fruit_growing_on_my_potato_plants

Luther Burbank produced what became the still famous Idaho russet potato by planting seeds from a potato seed ball.

https://idahopotatomuseum.com/history/potato-development/ 
An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 27, 2022, 9:55 PM EDT

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