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

That one was for the garden group. Misposted.

Paul

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.

Do you think that planting the broken stem (after a fresh cut) would
save it? Lay the first foot or so in soil? Just a thought.

nancy

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
> 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.
>
> Do you think that planting the broken stem (after a fresh cut) would
> save it? Lay the first foot or so in soil? Just a thought.


Too late unfortunately. Oh well, I guess I just get fewer tomatoes. My
celebrity are doing really well at least.

Paul

"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.)

"Arri London" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "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.

Yeah, I thought about that. Though about making a splint for it. The
vascular system was damaged but the stalk was not dead. I'll do that next
time. I'm hoping it is early enough in the season that it won't matter.
Already the emplt space is filling in with leaves from the other stalks but
they don;t look like they'll be growing any buds soon.

Paul

"Paul M. Cook" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Arri London" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>
>> "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.
>
> Yeah, I thought about that. Though about making a splint for it. The
> vascular system was damaged but the stalk was not dead. I'll do that next
> time. I'm hoping it is early enough in the season that it won't matter.
> Already the emplt space is filling in with leaves from the other stalks
> but they don;t look like they'll be growing any buds soon.
>
> Paul
>
If it is early enough in the season to make it worthwhile, you can cut a new
edge on the broken piece, put it in water and in about a week it will have
new roots. In my experience, the old tops on new roots are fairly robust
growers once established.
Janet

On Jul 8, 2:35*pm, "Janet Bostwick" > wrote:
> "Paul M. Cook" > wrote in ...
>
>
>
> > "Arri London" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> >> "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.
>
> > Yeah, I thought about that. *Though about making a splint for it. *The
> > vascular system was damaged but the stalk was not dead. *I'll do that next
> > time. *I'm hoping it is early enough in the season that it won't matter.
> > Already the emplt space is filling in with leaves from the other stalks
> > but they don;t look like they'll be growing any buds soon.
>
> > Paul
>
> If it is early enough in the season to make it worthwhile, you can cut a new
> edge on the broken piece, put it in water and in about a week it will have
> new roots. *In my experience, the old tops on new roots are fairly robust
> growers once established.

Or cut the edge, dip it in Rootone and stick it into the soil. Keep
the soil damp around it for a week or two and it will root. Then it
will grow another shoot from that rooting.

> Janet

--Bryan

Bobo Bonobo® wrote:
>
> On Jul 8, 2:35 pm, "Janet Bostwick" > wrote:
> > "Paul M. Cook" > wrote in ...
> >
> >
> >
> > > "Arri London" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> > >> "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.
> >
> > > Yeah, I thought about that. Though about making a splint for it. The
> > > vascular system was damaged but the stalk was not dead. I'll do that next
> > > time. I'm hoping it is early enough in the season that it won't matter.
> > > Already the emplt space is filling in with leaves from the other stalks
> > > but they don;t look like they'll be growing any buds soon.
> >
> > > Paul
> >
> > If it is early enough in the season to make it worthwhile, you can cut a new
> > edge on the broken piece, put it in water and in about a week it will have
> > new roots. In my experience, the old tops on new roots are fairly robust
> > growers once established.
>
> Or cut the edge, dip it in Rootone and stick it into the soil. Keep
> the soil damp around it for a week or two and it will root. Then it
> will grow another shoot from that rooting.
>
> >
> --Bryan

We've done that too. It also often works well enough.