Kitchen Garden Forum

There are some smart people on this forum with real good knowledge! Please can anyone tell me what I should do next? The trusses on my tomato plant are getting quite heavy. It just splits in every direction and grow trusses on trusses on even more trusses. Now it gets quite heavy and it starts to crack. Is my tomato plant having too much energy? Should I support this truss with a wire attached to bamboo?

I don't think I've come across a cracked tomato stem like this before. It sounds an odd thing to suggest but could you try handling it very gently covering it with a waterproof plaster? I suspect an open crack like this could attract infections and you could risk losing the whole plant.

If you can gently support the stem with some thick tape and tie it gently to the bamboo cane this would help. It seems a shame to remove some of the fruit to reduce the weight if you can find a way of keeping it supported.

Totally agree with Primrose, I had it once when a novice (well for some challenges still am)! All I had was plan old sticky tape so I wrapped it round the stem several times then reinforced the plant with a structure that got to resemble one of those macrame wall hangings from the 60's but I got the full crop!

Time to be creative Elmigo!

Yes, right... Good old sticky tape it is then, and a piece of soft cloth under it. I don't want to get any infections on the plant!

I've never had a split tomato stem , I tie the plants just under each truss which helps with the weight of the tomatoes the other thing I would ask is are you over feeding

I think I made a mess when I accidentally looked over a side shoot and didn't remove it. This tomato has two main stems now and the fruit is hanging on this side shoot stem. I'm getting it wired to another bamboo stick to prevent more damage

I would bandage it with jute twine. I accidentally tore a growing tip on one of mine a few years ago, but only part way through. I bandaged it with string, and it kept growing for the est of the season.