Can it be saved? Bandage? Graft? Reroot?

emcd124 · June 25, 2013

My indet tomatoes are finally nearing 18-24" so I've started moving to cage them, but hadnt finished yet when I noticed yesterday that the Chocolate Cherry (one of my biggest) was flopped over. on closer inspection the stem is 50-70% severed near the soil line.

First, I have no idea what did this: does it look like pest damage? split from unsupported weight? I'd like to diagnose cause so I can prevent anything similar from striking my other plants.

Second, is there anything I can do about it at this point? Wrap a bandage of some kind around it and hope for the best? Make two clean cuts? lop it off and try to reroot it in water or soil (or is the plant too big for that at this point?). I'd really like to salvage it if there's any hope but I've never tried to do anything of this kind.

I knew if any could help me save my little guy it would be the tomatophiles on here...

Affected tomato

Second tomato two beds over, showing no splitting, but yellowing and S shape of stem near soil line. Possibly related?

June 25, 2013	#1
emcd124 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: South Bend, IN Posts: 104	Can it be saved? Bandage? Graft? Reroot? My indet tomatoes are finally nearing 18-24" so I've started moving to cage them, but hadnt finished yet when I noticed yesterday that the Chocolate Cherry (one of my biggest) was flopped over. on closer inspection the stem is 50-70% severed near the soil line. First, I have no idea what did this: does it look like pest damage? split from unsupported weight? I'd like to diagnose cause so I can prevent anything similar from striking my other plants. Second, is there anything I can do about it at this point? Wrap a bandage of some kind around it and hope for the best? Make two clean cuts? lop it off and try to reroot it in water or soil (or is the plant too big for that at this point?). I'd really like to salvage it if there's any hope but I've never tried to do anything of this kind. I knew if any could help me save my little guy it would be the tomatophiles on here... Affected tomato Second tomato two beds over, showing no splitting, but yellowing and S shape of stem near soil line. Possibly related?