Is a tomato w/a broken main stem viable?

[JCinSeattle]

While planting my tomatoes I accidentally broke the main stem of one. I've left it in place so far and it remains otherwise healthy. Will it send up a new stem?? Will it fruit? Or should I just remove it and plant a new one? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

[TZ -OH6]

If it just collapsed and kinked you can make a splint with three small sticks and some tape or string. The stem should harden up and heal itself in a while, but you have to watch that the tape/string doesn't bind into the stem as it grows.

If it is snapped open/off then you could try to root the top in some water or wet soil and the bottom part will send up a sucker form a leaf axil, including from any leaves you removed when deep planting.

[hendi_alex]

I had a big, healthy tomato plant that hadn't been caged yet. Dragged the hose across it and broke the top clean off. I immediately stripped all but the upper most leaf growth and stuck the plant in a one gallon container of potting soil, watered the plant, and place in semi shade. The salvaged top never wilted, and should be ready to plant in the ground in a couple of weeks. If you have a bit of green stem, then IMO there is a chance that the plant will put back out from the root. My plant broke off even with the root ball. In that situation I don't think that there is any hope.

[rainbowgardener]

I had some of my leggy tomato seedlings that snapped off just a little ways above the soil. I just through them in a wheelbarrow to dispose of later and didn't pay any attention to them. The next week they had new shoots sprouting from the roots. ... I threw them away anyway, because I had already planted as many unbroken ones as I needed, so it's not a miraculous rescue, but it is a sign that they can do it.

[JCinSeattle]

I appreciate all the suggestions...thanks. Unfortunately, the top snapped off cleanly and I tossed it in the compost. Only the bottom part remains, and it appears healthy enough, but I'm not yet seeing any regrowth action. Fortunately, I've planted enough tomatoes that I can live without any fruit from this one. Perhaps I'll leave it where it is as a test case and just see what happens over the summer. If I can remember to do so, I'll report in on the outcome.

Among the other tomatoes that still have their tops is one I bought that's labeled an heirloom tomato. I bought it solely for its name: Mr. Stripey. I so envy the person whose job it is to name these things. Mr. Stripey...a stroke of brilliance.

[a0c8c]

My only tomato plant left is a Mr. Stripey. Supposed to be ugly fruit(brown and purple), but very tasty. Yours will be set back alittle from the stress but it will recover and set fruit.

[Janabeth]

The next time that happens try planting it on its side with soil, it'll grow roots up the entire stem. I had one that was left out during a Houston flooding rain and it grew tubelures up the stem didn't know what it was, till another gardener told me about it

[Peter1142]

Absolutely, they make side shoots, you probably won't even notice the difference come harvest time. It will only be set back a little... IME.