Brandywine damaged by wind-any help?

[ohgardener]

I'm a newbie gardener...so bear with me. I'm growing 4 tomato plants (different varieties) and 4 pepper plants in a raised bed.

I have a brandwine tomato in my raised bed that I've been staking up as it grows. A few days ago we had some pretty nasty storms blow through and it bent the stem right by one of the ties, maybe 16" off the ground. I'm using 1/2" wide green plastic for the ties. When I pulled the stem back upright I noticed that there were vertical slits on one side but the other side was intact. I went ahead and retied up the stalk and then put a bandage over the tear in a (probably silly) effort to keep out any nasty critters. The plant hasn't started wilting or anything like that and I'm hesitant to cut it off since it already had 2 sets of flowers and I know brandywines take a while to mature.

Any input on what I should do? Will the plant be okay or should I start over?

[TZ -OH6]

That type of damage will heal over in time but it is important that you strengthen that part of the stem, so you could make a splint out of popsicle sticks etc and some string or tape, or tie it to the stake itself in a sturdy way. You just have to be carefull not to bind up the stem because it will have to expand as it grows.

[ohgardener]

Thanks for the advice-should I remove the bandage then or leave it on?

[TZ -OH6]

I don't know. I've done it both ways. I had to slit a couple of stems to kill stem borers a couple of years ago and wrapped the stems with medical paper tape to hold them together. The plants lived and grew but the area under the tape turned brown. Plants are not like animals so an open wound probably won't get infected but rather form a dry callus in the air.

[Duh_Vinci]

Last year, also Brandywine, couple of stems had the damage from the wind as you described. And as TZ suggested - did the same thing, supported well, and grew out just fine, had fruits on every stem.

Good luck!

Regards,
D

[tedln]

If the break is in the main vertical stem, you can place a strong stake on two sides of the stem and then secure it between the stakes above and below the damage. Stakes and zip ties or stakes and tape should work.

If I remember my high school biology, the outer layer of the stem is where the work occurs. I believe it is called the cambium layer. The channels through which moisture and nutrients pass from the roots to the upper plant are in the cambium layer. If it isn't damaged, you should be okay. I believe the core of the stem provides structural strength allowing a plant to grow tall. If it is damaged, the plant must then be supported until it heals.

Ted

[ohgardener]

Thanks for all the great advice. Once it stops raining I'll make sure it's well supported. I'll post an update on the progress.

Thanks!
B

[farmerlon]

Thanks for all the great advice. Once it stops raining I'll make sure it's well supported...

I caged all of my Tomato plants this year, and I think that's the best thing I ever did for my Tomatoes.
For me, that is virtually "maintenance free", and so much better than "staking and tieing" and other types of tomato support systems that I have tried.

<img src="https://a03-b03.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/onZptvR-SXbBB7Fr9H.k_uqAhP6arOe*FdC0Fa7%3Dw7Cjio*Fd%26IF0quVnirFNqL/item.jpg?rot=1" title="" alt="" width="626"height="480">