UPDATE!!--I think my Costoluto Fiorentino (tomato) has transplant shock.

[beac]

Last edited Tue Jun 12, 2012, 12:33 PM - Edit history (1)

UDATE in separate post below....



I try to be a good tomato mother and transplant early in the morning or late in the evening when the temps are cooler, but life intervened and I had to put that Italian gentleman in his pot at about 11am on one of the hotter-than-it-should-be-for-May days. Now he's crying "Porca Miseria!" and I am riddled with guilt.

Fortunately, he is the only one of this year's tomatoes subjected to this rough treatment. The place where his pot was to go was conflicting with some last-minute unexpected house repairs and by the time they were done he desperately needed to get out of his seedling pot and I was facing three solid days with no time but the present to attend to him. Mi dispiace, caro pomodoro!

I think his size at transplant and well-established roots will eventually pull him through, but I wonder if there is anything I could/should do for him in the meantime to ease his pain?

Any advice?

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. No prob - tomatoes are tough! Just be sure that it is well watered -

should come back nicely. It's amazing what tomatoes can put up with and still pull through!

[Denninmi]

2. This is true.

When I dump the unwanted ones at the end of the season, many of them try to root in and grow.

[beac]

3. Thanks for the reassurance.

I feel just terrible. I've been muttering little words of encouragement to him each time I go outside (his pot is right by the screen door.)

We had a very chilly night last night. Hoping that didn't traumatize the poor fellow further.

[beac]

4. "I will Survive!"

Yup, he's singing this tune now. When last we left, looked sad, hopeless and I thought he might be a goner, but he SURVIVED!

Thanks for the encouragement to let him rest and recover. Looking forward to fat, delicious tomatoes off this now-happy plant.

[mopinko]

5. my neighbor used to always put a mason jar over transplants

just for a couple days. does work like a charm.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. That's good news!

Tomatoes can be amazingly resilient. I've had success planting ones with broken stems (i.e. still attached to the roots but just barely.)

I've grown the more common costoluto Genovese and love the flavor.

[BlueToTheBone]

7. I love Thrive Alive for transplant shock

It's chock a block full of vitamin b and things perk right back up with a little shot.

[TuxedoKat]

8. Yes

I use something similar I found at Walmart called SuperThrive. It seems to be making a big difference with all my plantings this year --including fruit trees, bushes, and vegetables.

[BlueToTheBone]

9. I think it's the same company

Thrive Alive is organic and I use that on edibles. I'm amazed at the efficacy of the stuff.

[TuxedoKat]

10. Okay

I'd read about Thrive Alive too, and figured it was the same type of product as SuperThrive. I'm amazed too at how it helps plants. Thanks for the info.

[JDPriestly]

11. Yes. A Vitamin B solution is usually helpful.