Broken stem...

Ed of Somis · July 28, 2013

Unfortunately, I have determined that my performance tying up and supporting branches and fruit...has been poor. I have been playing catch-up with this issue all season. This is my first season of getting serious with tomatoes. I have erected 6' T posts and stretched twine between. I missed tying one big branch...and it snapped today. It is hanging by about 1/3 of it's diameter after I taped it together tightly with garden tape. The leaves are withered. Is this branch history? I need to develop a better system next year. Maybe 6" concrete wire between T posts???

bcday · July 28, 2013

How far apart are the T posts?

I think at this point I would clip the broken branch off. Depending on how much growing season you have left, you can try planting it deeply, watering thoroughly and keeping it shaded for a few days. It may grow its own roots and sprout new top growth. I think it has zero chance of survival where it is now.

Ed of Somis · July 29, 2013

B...I think you are right about the stem being history. My T posts are 6 feet apart with string stretched between at 3 different levels (horizontally). Then I tie off the plants to the horizontals. I found the nylon cord I used initially...stretched. This was no-bueno!

July 28, 2013	#1
Ed of Somis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somis, Ca Posts: 649	Broken stem... Unfortunately, I have determined that my performance tying up and supporting branches and fruit...has been poor. I have been playing catch-up with this issue all season. This is my first season of getting serious with tomatoes. I have erected 6' T posts and stretched twine between. I missed tying one big branch...and it snapped today. It is hanging by about 1/3 of it's diameter after I taped it together tightly with garden tape. The leaves are withered. Is this branch history? I need to develop a better system next year. Maybe 6" concrete wire between T posts???

July 29, 2013	#3
Ed of Somis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somis, Ca Posts: 649	stem B...I think you are right about the stem being history. My T posts are 6 feet apart with string stretched between at 3 different levels (horizontally). Then I tie off the plants to the horizontals. I found the nylon cord I used initially...stretched. This was no-bueno!

July 28, 2013	#2
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	How far apart are the T posts? I think at this point I would clip the broken branch off. Depending on how much growing season you have left, you can try planting it deeply, watering thoroughly and keeping it shaded for a few days. It may grow its own roots and sprout new top growth. I think it has zero chance of survival where it is now.