Tomato-looking fruits on Potato plants

[David Taylor]

The potato plants are doing really well, with only a few slips on the way. However, I've noticed, suddenly, small fruit on the potato plants that look a lot like a tomato. With a quick look I haven't seen any reference to fruit on potato plants. Insight? Should I strip them off?

[Kisal]

Yes, remove them. They are not edible, because they contain the same poisonous alkyloid as the leaves and stems. Here's a short article about potato fruit:

https://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2004/7-2-2004/tomatopotato.html

[David Taylor]

Good input, Kisal. I'm figuring fruit uses up plant energy, which I would prefer being dumped into the tubers. Today, I'll go strip them off, crush them up and throw them in the pre-composter.