Kartomat: Tomatoes on Top, Potatoes Underground

Remember the Russian fairy tale about the crafty peasant and the trusting bear, who ended up with nothing but leaves—worthless tops—and useless roots? The peasant always came out ahead! But if they had been dividing not turnips or wheat but something like a kartomat, nobody would have lost.

And the kartomat is no mere fantasy or play on words. This remarkable plant was created by the horticulturist Ivan Michurin. He grafted tomato shoots onto potato stems, and the resulting hybrid was named kartomat. And what a creation it turned out to be! On the branches, bright, beautiful tomatoes shine, while underground, potato tubers swell with starch.