Seed company unveils novel ‘egg and chips’ plant

Seed company Thompson & Morgan has launched a hybrid plant that can produce both aubergines and potatoes for the consumer market.

Dubbed ‘Egg and chips’, due to the aubergine also being known as eggplant, the launch builds on the success of earlier hybrid TomTato, which produces both tomatoes and potatoes on the plants.

Thompson & Morgan said the egg and chips plant is a “real innovation” that will inspire children to engage with horticulture. It can be grown outside in sheltered areas, and is expected to produce up to four aubergines and yield up to 2kg of white potatoes.

In addition, Thompson & Morgan said the grafting process makes it easier to grow aubergines in the UK as the plant is better supported by the more sturdy potato root system.

The company said it will not publish details about varieties used in the hybrid and said it rescheduled summer press days to keep final crop trials a secret.

New product development manager Michael Perry said: “For seasoned veg growers this is a really novel development. 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 & Chips plant – pair it with a Tomtato plant and you’ll have three easy to grow crops from just two pots.”