headless tomato seedlings

DonnaMarieNJ · June 2, 2006

Starlings actually broke about 18 of the main stems on my seedlings in half (I saw them, although too late, flying with the top half of the plant in their beaks to their nest). Some plants that were broken were still in the cups and some were in the ground. In about three cases I was able to save the tops and put them back in the dirt. The numerous bottom (and top) stems are still green and producing leaves, but I was wondering if I should just give up on them all.

Should I just replace these plants or wait and see?

Thanks.

Tomstrees · June 2, 2006

DonnaMarieNJ,

I would wait and see -
Are there any leaves left?

Reason for my asking is,
I have a Black from Tula
that was severly knocked
around from the wind/rain and lost
all of the upper part of the plant,
with only the two bottom leaves
remaining.
I left it, and what happened
was a new leader (sucker) started
from one of the nodes ~

Tom

ps. this is the earliest I've
ever started my tomatoes
in NJ ~ May 4th !

pss. what a storm last night !

DonnaMarieNJ · June 2, 2006

Thank you, Tom. I was thinking of just yanking them and putting in seedlings that I have left over. I may just do that anyway. Without knowing definitely, I'd rather be safe than sorry and waste a good seedling. It seems my starlings like my plants for their nests! I didn't know who the culprit was until just this past week, and I lost so many plants!

feldon30 · June 4, 2006

Have you bought any bird netting yet? $11 at Home Depot.

June 2, 2006	#1
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 731	headless tomato seedlings Starlings actually broke about 18 of the main stems on my seedlings in half (I saw them, although too late, flying with the top half of the plant in their beaks to their nest). Some plants that were broken were still in the cups and some were in the ground. In about three cases I was able to save the tops and put them back in the dirt. The numerous bottom (and top) stems are still green and producing leaves, but I was wondering if I should just give up on them all. Should I just replace these plants or wait and see? Thanks.

June 2, 2006	#2
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	DonnaMarieNJ, I would wait and see - Are there any leaves left? Reason for my asking is, I have a Black from Tula that was severly knocked around from the wind/rain and lost all of the upper part of the plant, with only the two bottom leaves remaining. I left it, and what happened was a new leader (sucker) started from one of the nodes ~ Tom ps. this is the earliest I've ever started my tomatoes in NJ ~ May 4th ! pss. what a storm last night ! __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

June 4, 2006	#4
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Have you bought any bird netting yet? $11 at Home Depot.