Yesterday, I finished planting the tomatoes in the garden, and covered them with red plastic mulch. I had to fit the plastic OVER the plants*. While cutting the holes to "work" the plant through, I accidentally snipped off the growing tip of the very last one. No snide comments about a "hit" by Guido, please! This variety is one of my favorites so far (Wisconsin 55) -- fortunately I have another one planted too.

My question is this: Will the tomato grow another "sprout" or growing tip? I had, unfortunately, already pinched off the extraneous sprouts, otherwise I would have just encouraged one of those to take over. Or should I yank it and put in a different transplant? I have one I was going to put in a pot.

*The reason I was putting the mulch OVER the tomatoes, rather than planting through the plastic: My transplants had gotten quite tall, so I dug trenches and laid the roots and most of the stems (after pruning leaves) in the trench. The day before planting, I laid the plants down so that the tops would start turning upward. When planting, I held the tops upright with short bamboo stakes (just to get them started). The bamboo stakes were very helpful for marking the spot to cut the hole in the plastic. I think I would use this method again, especially on a calm day.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Answers

Oops, I forgot to mention, the extra transplant is NOT the same variety, and I already have three others of the "extra" planted, so I would rather the "snipped" plant remained, as long as it will grow.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

If your plant was vigorous when you beheaded it, and it still has some stem showing above the ground, I'm betting it will grow. It doesn't need the leaves so much as the junctions where the sprouts come from, and they seem to really like to live once they get going.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Yes Joy, properly "nurtured" I am sure it has a good chance of surviving and growing a New Head. I have accidently hacked them off when hoeing and had them come back o.k.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Joy, I've started plants from the sprouts you mentioned by stripping all but the last leaves, dipping them in Rootone and potting in sharp sand. In a shady, calm spot, they seem to root just fine for late plants. Would this work with the part you cut off?

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Okay, I'm convinced, I'll give it a chance to recover.

Marilyn, it was just a tiny tip, nothing to root. Besides, I don't even know where it went -- somewhere into the dirt, I guess. I'll keep that in mind though, if I ever cut off a larger piece!

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

IT'S ALIVE!! {using a Gene Wilder voice there} It's growing a NEW HEAD! Quick, how do I defend my garden from a Frankenstein tomato? ;-D

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....aren't you glad you gave the poor little thing a second chance?????

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001