Does this poor pitiful thing have a chance?

[tam91]

Well a few weeks ago, my darling precious beloved DARNED dog decided to take up gardening, and pulled up about half of my newly planted tomato plants and throw them on the ground. I replanted most of them, replaced a couple.

But this is my last Brandywine Cherry - I really wanted to try that one. It really took a beating. I think it's actually made a couple new tiny leaves lately, but it sure is pitiful looking.

Does it have a chance to survive? Any special treatment that would help?

[Doug9345]

It'll survive just fine. How far behind it will be I don't know. The plants that I've managed to beat one way or another have kind of sat and did very little. Then they'd start to grow a few leaves. When they got the right amount of temperature and sunlight they'd take off. I might lightly fertilize it a little, if there isn't much fertility in the ground.

[PaulF]

Tomatoes are pretty tough. Like Doug says. Cherry tomatoes don't need much encouragement; it may be a few weeks late but as long as you have new leaves, it is coming back.

[Worth1]

It will be fine and you will never know it happened in a month or two.(that is if the dog doesn't pull it up again)

As for fertilizing it I wouldn't, much of the root system is gone and it should be treated like a new planting.

Worth

[barkeater]

Tracy,

It doesn't look good, but I would replant it burying the stem all the way up to those pitiful leaves and it might pull through.

[tam91]

I didn't think of replanting it (again), didn't want to give it more of a hard time. I did fertilize it a little while ago, it did seem to help. It's ok if it's late, I just want to try that variety.

Dang dog is now foiled by a nice high fence, shouldn't have that problem again, I hope.

[lakelady]

Tracy, have faith. I had a little Jap. Black Trifele that really got beat up as I forgot about it, then stepped on it, then planted it, then it was full of flea beetle holes, and with a little TLC and very light feeding of seaweed, this weekend I happily noticed a lot of new green growth ! I think yours has a good chance at recovery.

[tam91]

Thanks, I hope so. It refuses to die, so hopefully it'll decide to actually start growing. It's been stalled for quite a while.

[Doug9345]

Most likely it has been growing a root system. If you've been rainy and overcast like I have been, that will stall a plant like that. Remember leaves are what makes food for the plant. The rate at which it is going to grow is somewhat proportional to it's leaf area. Think about how little actual growth a tomato makes in it's first month of life compared to the second month.

[kurt]

Snap off those decaying stems so as not to let any disease take hold and some new suckers will evolve to help in sun absorption.

[tam91]

Rainy and overcast? hahahaha What is rain? I think I have forgotten what rain is! It isn't dying, so hopefully it'll make it.

I'll have a closer look at those stems.

[Solanum315]

Think of it this way, when the seedling first emerged from the ground, it had a lot less leaf area than that and now it has a far more robust root system. I have had lots look worse than that and pull through just fine.

[tam91]

I think this plant is actually plastic - it is sitting there, looking the same still. Won't die - won't grow. I do wish it would make up it's mind.

[kurt]

If and when you put it in the sun,turn plant to see if it reaches(turns) for it.Maybe put in a shade spot close to a sunray line and see how it reacts.Might spark life in it.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by tam91

I think this plant is actually plastic - it is sitting there, looking the same still. Won't die - won't grow. I do wish it would make up it's mind.

Maybe a very mild solution of MG will help.

Worth