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Damaged tomato, help!
Ann17
Posts: 2
in Fruit & veg
My keen 4-year old assistant gardener picked up a pretty heavy tomato pot (not quite as tall as himself but very nearly...), holding the poor thing up from the stem in the middle. It's pretty bruised and twisted (the plant, that is - I am a firm believer in not hitting children under any circumstances.... ) - but not properly broken, so I am wondering if there is any chance helping it to heal. I have tied the stem to a stick with a wide piece of cloth - but perhaps there is something else I should be considering?
Thank you on behalf of a badly instructed gardening team,
Ann
0
Posts
If it isn't actually broken off the support from a cane and tied in with some soft twine should help it (the wide piece of cloth is good as it will be soft enough to support the stem without cutting into it).
If the damage is at ground (soil) level try adding some more compost to the stem above the damage (removing any leaf stems to that point) and the stem will throw out more roots and give the plant added support. This may mean re-potting the plant a little deeper but as long as the soil ball is not damaged it should be fine. Just give the plant a good drink of water afterwards.
Another option would be to remove he top half, then use the next side-shoot to form another top.
I'm with John. And keep the plant in the shade for a few days to let it recover.
Thanks everyone! Have followed your advice. Fingers crossed.
The chickens - oops, I mean children - have learned the lesson and are now tiptoeing around the "hospital bay"...