"Paul M. Cook" wrote:
>
> While cleaning out my tomato pots and trimming my plants I noticed my yellow
> pear had 2 main branches of 4 that had broken spots. It looked like the
> branch had been twisted like a dish rag aka wrung out. The leaves were
> still alive but the breaks did not look good. It looked like the plant had
> tried to grow downward against the tomato stakes trying to make them grow
> upwards. The breaks were brownish looking and seemed really week. I went
> ahead and cut them off losing 1/3 of my plant in the process and most of my
> young tomatoes.
>
> Did I over react? I was thinking those limbs would never be viable and a
> drain on the plant in the end. Plus I was worried about bug infiltration.
> Will it recover? Sure doesn't look good at the moment.
>
> Paul

Might have overreacted a bit. When dealing with broken stems of plants,
we normally try straightening them out gently and then taping over the
weak part to support it. It often (but not always) is enough for that
stem to recover and grow normally.

Too late for this time but try it next time and see how it goes.

(Some idiot workmen in London snapped the branches of a blueberry bush I
had growing out on my little back patio. Was very angry at them and
tried the straightening/taping in desperation. Couldn't go out and get
another bush so it was worth a try. Worked a treat and the poor bush
produced a lot of berries the next season, including the previously
snapped stems.)