Suspenders
Gavin
Posts: 27
Hi,
I have several tomato plants growing this year, two in a grow bag, one in a container and another in the ground as part of an experiment to see which method yields the tallest plant. I know it is a bit trivial but it is a sort of a competition I've got going, my Dad's tomato plants are now about 4 feet high.
Anyway, the plant in the container is one of the shortest plants but has the thickest stem, however this stem has somehow how diverged into two. These two stems are growing out horizontally over the container and have plenty of flowers and are beginning to bear fruit. The weight of the stems alone has caused the main stem to spilt as you can see in the photograph. I'm worried that when the fruit starts to grow that the branches will be pulled off under their own weight.
I have put a large cane into the container close to the stem as far down as it will go and have screwed a hook into it. Using twine I have suspended the two stems in a more natural position but I fear it is too late. Should I dab the scar with a bit of hormone powder to get it to knit together? Would that even work?
I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions
Gavin
Posts
I wouldn't bother with the hormone powder: as long as you support it in position securely, it'll probably heal all right.
The two diverging stems you describe: one of them is almost certainly a side shoot which should have been removed early in its career (probably the one on the right in the photo). If you can bear it, cut it off now with a sharp knife or sharp secateurs. Even though it's bearing fruit, the conventional wisdom is that it's less productive overall than a single cordon. On the other hand, if you want to keep it, treat it just like an ordinary stem; support it securely along its length and remove all new side shoots.
Hi Steve,
thanks for that. I'm certain you are right that it is a side shoot. A couple of day without attention and this is what happens. I think I would prefer to cut it off, but was afraid it would harm the plant.
Gavin
If you have several plants, the risk to your total crop in getting one plant wrong is reduced, of course. So yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice....
Yep, I get you. This is my first attempt with cordon toms, in previous years I've only grown maskotka toms - with those all I have to worry about it growing them up high enough to keep the them from trailing on the ground.
I'm dreading what 'my' greenhouse is going to look like tomorrow after a week away...
I use electrical tape ,use s cane like a splint along the split stem.wrap it around enclosing it all l
cut one off, put it in a 6 inch pot with some decent compost. water it well. and keep in the shade, in about three weeks you'll have another tomato!