What Can Happen If You Don't Stake Your Tomatoes Properly

Here's an example of the damage that can result if you don't stake your tomatoes properly or expose them to too much wind. This cherry tomato plant snapped off in the middle of the main stem, just above where the stake ended. Unfortunately, the plant was currently fruiting and had about 20 infant tomatoes on the top, so I lost a harvest.

THE LESSON

• Stakes should be taller than the plant will ever grow. This plant outgrew the stake and I didn't bother to put in a new one.
• Stakes should be installed as deeply as possible.
• Two stakes are better than one.
• The more places the stem is tied to the stake(s), the better.
• Tomatoes shouldn't be in a place that is completely unprotected from wind (like the open roof).

IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU

Don't give up hope. Tomato plants are able to recover quite well from this sort of injury. Though the main stem will not regrow from the breaking point, the plant will produce new branches that will take the place of the growing tip. Normally these are called suckers. They grow at the intersection of the main stem and a major branch. Usually you snip them off as soon as they appear. But, if your main stem is severed, you can let one of these suckers grow to take its place.

GRAFT & TAPE

If your stem is just broken, but not completely detached, you can tape it back in place and the two parts will eventually fuse back together just like a broken bone.

PLANT THE BROKEN BRANCH / STEM

Broken branches and large sections of stem can also be replanted. They will root in a short time and reestablish themselves. This is actually the process known as "cloning" and it can be done to create new plants rather than growing from seed.