tree vs. tomatoes - help!

12 years ago

hi everyone- i am an urban farmer in Brooklyn. An irresponsible neighbor left a dead tree sitting on his property for at least four years (I haven't been here longer than that) and it fell on my garden last week, crushing my grape arbor and bean trellis. Then my terrible neighbor brought in a random dude with a chainsaw (NOT an arborist) who cut the tree in half from his size, which of course made the tree fall forward onto my tomato bed. It didn't fully crush my tomatoes, but they are definitely bent and damaged.

Any ideas about what I should do? My tomatoes are already relatively leggy, given the inadequate sunlight my back yard gets. Do you guys think I should cut the tops off of my tomatoes? Try to re-stake them? Or just let them grow a bit wildly now, and call it fate? Thanks!

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Comments (4)

seysonn
12 years ago
Take the case to the small court.
Your neighbor's house insurance should pay for the damages.
labradors_gw
12 years ago
I would try to re-stake them. Cut off anything that is damaged. If any stalks have broken off, strip off the lower leaves and try rooting them.

As Seysonn says, he neighbor should be made to recompense you for the damage.

Linda
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theforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)
12 years ago
If you go the court route, be sure to take photos of the damages.

Rodney
fireduck
12 years ago
I suggest not taking legal action...and making the best of a poor neighbor situation. This country is sue happy...and it has changed the way we deal with neighborly issues. Perhaps you can splice the damaged tomato branch back together....and it will grow like a graft. In any event...it sounds like this problem might ultimately be small tomatoes...hehe. You may mention to your neighbor that you are glad the damage to your stuff was not worse than what it was....and you are working to restore your stuff.