Crossword Genius

What mother has to eat, to start and to finish (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tomato

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'eat to start and to finish' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'what mother has to' is the wordplay.
'what' becomes 'to' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'mother' becomes 'ma' (Ma is another word for mother or mum).
'has' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'to'+'ma'+'to'='TOMATO'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tomato that I've seen before include "Love apple (or "beef" fruit?)" , "Part of a BLT sandwich" , "Type of sauce" , "Pulpy fruit eaten as vegetable" , "Love apple (archaic)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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