How to Fix a Broken Tomato Plant
Tomato plants are grown in numerous different ways. Some people plant them inside, while others may grow them outside. However, one of the most common problems is when a tomato plant has broken branches. This article will show you how to fix a broken tomato plant to continue growing and producing tomatoes again.
The first thing you need to do is cut off any broken or damaged leaves from the broken stem. Next, cut off any excess vines at the end of the branch with your scissors or pruning shears if they’re still attached. The final step is to place something like bark chips around the base of where you want your new branch coming out from and then pile up dirt around it. This will give it a stable foundation to grow from. Check out this blog post to learn more!
10 Ways on How to Fix a Broken Tomato Plant:
1. Remove All Broken Branches and Leaves From the Plant.
Wash your hands with soap and water, removing any remains of dirt or pesticides. Next, wash your pruning shears with warm, soapy water to remove any harmful residues on them (it’s always a good idea to clean tools after each use). Next, gently slice away diseased tissue and trim away broken branches. Then, rewash your hands. Good candidates for the compost pile are leaves, bark from dead branches, and fruit. Remember to be selective with what you throw in your bin, as not all waste belongs there.
2. Cut off the Diseased Tissue.
If there is a spot on the tomato plant that is infected with disease, use a clean, sharp pruning shear to remove the diseased tissue. Make a clean cut at least 1 inch away from the spot, trying to get as close to the plant’s stem as possible without actually cutting into it.
3. Burn Infected Material.
If your plant has diseased leaves, it is a good idea to remove them by burning them if possible. This will help prevent the spread of disease to other plants in the area. To do this, tightly ball up or fold the leaves and dispose of them in a fireproof container (such as a metal can). Be sure not to leave any loose bits of leaves around.
4. Clean and Sterilize Your Tools.
It’s important to clean your pruning shears after each use to stop the spread of germs. To do this, first, spray them down with a disinfectant/soap and water mix (use one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water). Then, wipe them off with a rag or paper towel. Next, check the tool for any remaining plant material.
If there is any, repeat the scrubbing process. Finally, make sure that you don’t place your dirty shears back into your toolbox without cleaning them, and this will only spread disease to your other tools! Plants are all susceptible to different kinds of diseases, even if you have kept them healthy for a long time. In general, trees and plants do not develop immunity to any disease, so they need constant care to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
5. Dust with Fungicide/Pesticide Powder.
Sprinkle fungicide powder over your plants, making sure to dust the entire plant, including any diseased portions that have been cut off. You can also spray with pesticides if you want. For example, try using lime sulfur or a systemic insecticide mixed with water.
6. Keep the Plant in a Shady Location.
Tomatoes require at least six hours of sunlight daily to produce fruit, so you must keep your diseased plant out of direct sunlight and in a shady area for the time being. Then, if needed, give the plant just an hour or two of morning sun and then move it back into its shaded location.
7. Spray Daily with Water.
Spritz your plant with water at least once per day (twice is better) to keep the plant hydrated and moist while it recovers. Make sure that you don’t drown it, though, but more importantly, it doesn’t get too hot or dry out! It’s best if you use room temperature filtered/distilled water to spray, but regular tap water is fine too.
8. Prune Your Plant.
Trim away any dead or dying branches to help improve air circulation and prevent the spread of disease/bacteria. Also, prune away any leaves blocking other healthy leaves that suck up sunlight (this will also increase air circulation). Don’t over-prune, though, and you still want blooms on your plants.
9. Fertilize the Soil.
Add fertilizer to your garden soil at least once per month (twice is better). This will help ensure that your plant gets all the nutrients it needs to recover. You must use the correct type of fertilizer for tomato plants. Make sure it says “tomato” or something similar on the label (otherwise, it won’t work).
10. Trim Away New Growth.
If your plant rebounds and resumes growing but then starts acting sick again, it’s probably best that you remove it from the ground before it sours all of your other plants. Cut off any browning or sick branches looking to help prevent disease/bacteria from spreading while keeping your tomato plant healthy.
Can a Broken Tomato Plant Be Saved?
Tomato plants are pretty easy to grow, but sometimes tragedy will strike. Maybe you were unloading the dishwasher and accidentally knocked into your tomato plant, or perhaps a branch broke off in a storm. If this happens during flowering, many times, the plant won’t bear fruit.
However, it’s not always too late to fix things up! If you’re willing to put in a bit of work, your plant can be saved. There is nothing more frustrating than bringing your tomato plants in for the winter, only to find one of them not doing well. Luckily, in most cases, you can revive your plant with a few changes. When deciding whether or not to try and save something, look at your plant carefully for fungus growth, wilting leaves, browning stems, etc.
Conclusion:
Make sure to fertilize your tomato plants every couple of weeks. If you want more tomatoes, pinch off all the flowers on your plant when they first appear. However, be mindful not to over-fertilize or under-fertilize, as it will only slow down growth and yield less fruit in the end.
For help with how to fix a broken tomato plant and how many fertilizer applications are needed for a healthy tomato plant, contact us! We’re here to provide reliable information about gardening while helping you fix any broken tomato problems that may arise along the way.
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