Replanted a tomato and it is wilting

9 years ago

Hello. I had a tomato plant (beef steak) that was creased pretty bad by a hail storm. A friend of mine (who really knows what she is doing) helped me to carefully dig it up and replant it down to where the crease was so that it would re-root and regrow. However, that was Sunday and today is Wednesday and it looks pitiful. Very wilty. Until we transplanted it...even with the crease...it still looked pretty healthy. We just knew with as bad as the creas was...when it got some weight on it...it would certainly break. Any suggestions?

Featured Answer

rgreen48

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Yeah, rooting should be done in shade, or at least VERY dappled, or indirect light - especially for the first few days, slowly hardening back off after roots begin forming. See if you can find something to protect it for a few days to a week. If you do try again another time, cut it down a bit in size. In your 2nd pic, I can make out 2 leading growing tops. I think I would made that one plant into 2 where they divide.

Keep in mind that the larger the plant, the more surface area exposed to evaporation and transpiration. Without roots, the plant has no way of managing water loss and sun stress.

It may live, but it may not... at that state of wilt, there's really not much you can do to save it. It will either succeed or fail, only time will tell.

It's not too late though to pick up a replacement.

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Comments (7)

daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
What do you mean by "crease"? You mean the stem was bent over and pinched? If that's the case, and you want to save the plant, you'd need to plant it with the crease well buried. You're trying to form roots *above* the crease. The crease can basically permanently pinch off all water and nutrients from below it. If it is seriously pinched, everything below the crease is done for. It takes a little while for the plant above the crease to be aware that it's not getting any water or nutrients from the roots. Once it does, pitiful and wilty is what it will look like.

Even if you replant with the crease well buried, it's going to take a while for the new roots to form, and it's likely that you'll lose a lot of what is on top. Be sure to keep the soil moist and protect from strong sun exposure.
stacey_culpepper
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes, that is exactly what I meant. Thank you for the reply.
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PcolaGrower
9 years ago
That plant looks pretty bad to me. I'm not sure it's gonna make it. I think it would've been better to just cut it and root it in a container if you really wanted to save it. Also maybe if it had a growth tip below the crease to just cut it there and let it grow. Tomato plants are pretty resilient and will grow back, but i think the more you mess with it, the worse it is. Also not sure about the puddle of water it's in, your soil looks like it doesn't drain well. I think you might be better off finding a replacement, if it makes it it might not be that productive. I'll let some more experienced people chime in though. Sorry bout your plant, it sucks when you lose one.
stacey_culpepper
Original Author
9 years ago
I was watering at the very moment I took the pic. That is why there is kind of "standing water" I guess I will give it a minute and see if it survives. If not...I will replace it. Thank you for your input.
Barrie, (Central PA, zone 6a)
9 years ago
The stem may heal without being below soil but you need to "Baby" the plant for a few days. As Rgreen mentioned you need shade and that can be in the form of a basket or crate inverted over the plant during the next few days; if sunny even mist the plant with water every half hour. I hope all works out well.
PupillaCharites
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Stacey, I admire your determination to get the plant to make it but would like to do my part to discourage you from waiting to get a replacement transplant. I really wish you could gotten another as soon as you saw you had "kinky stem".

Looking at the overall condition of the plant, it is malnourished which will take its toll, appears diseased on the leaves though that is not clear in the photos, and now likely has a terribly damaged root system from getting dug up like that, no mater how tender you were. I don't see a great future in this plant no matter how it turns out.

The guys above have all given great advice on how to save the plant's life, but I think you will be disappointed with it even if you succeed after taking one look at it. I am not trying to discourage you from keeping it if you have the space -on the contrary, keep it around on life support as an experiment in life, just, don't let it hold you up if you want a healthy plant, which starting over you can pick well and fertilize properly. Get a fun variety to make it more exciting. That's my opinion anyway. If I were doing this at this stage I would just keep the upward pointing growing tip (actually a side shoot), root it and go on. The rest looks too beat to me. Good luck and happy gardening

Cheers

PC