Sad tomato plant - help

elf06

So my son grew a tomato plant from sees at school. When he got it home the teacher had over watered it and he dropped it. Poor thing was destined not to survive. Any way somw how I kept it going and it was going ok albeit a bit twisted. I then went on holiday and it went to my mum's house with my son. When I got back it had shot up. Probably tripled in size! It stayed there for weeks as I kept forgetting to bring it home. Now it's home and looking VERY sorry for itself.

Do I chop it down to soil level and hope for the best or does anyone have any other suggestions? I am not in any way greenfingered - my knowledge of plants can be written in the back of a postage stamp but I normally seem to have more luck with edible things!!

elf06

Was going to add photos but can't remember how to! Sorry

Farway

elf06 wrote: »

Was going to add photos but can't remember how to! Sorry

Go here, then copy & paste the resulting text

https://postimages.org/

Is the plant inside or outside?

I suspect it is just straggly & starved. And TBH as it is now the end of August it is not likely to improve with age

Has it ever had flowers?

elf06

Ok here goes...

https://postimg.org/image/dz5j29gur/

Plant has been both inside and out but mostly in. I understand it's not looking good for this year but if I can keep it going over winter I'll have one happy boy! Plus it only came home at the beginning of July as a plant about 2 inches tall.

No flowers but hadn't expected any until next year......

Fruittea

Oh dear me. It looks as if you have 3/4 seeds growing in the same space. So it never really had a chance. Maybe next year you make sure there is only 1 plant in the pot. That one is far too leggy and has mould.


Sorry to say but it's a no go for your son this year.

Mojisola

elf06 wrote: »

I understand it's not looking good for this year but if I can keep it going over winter I'll have one happy boy!

No flowers but hadn't expected any until next year......

Tomatoes grow from seed, flower, fruit and die off in one season.

Start again next year - perhaps buy a small plant to get off to a good start?

There are different kinds of tomato plants - some grow tall, fruit off the main stem and you have to remove all side shoots; others are left to grow and fruit on all shoots.

You aren't likely to get good results from an indoor plant because the light levels will be too low.

elf06

Thanks for your help
Teacher obviously wasn't watching what they were doing (or more likely wasn't able to keep an eye on them all).
Bin it is then. Neither of us eat tomatoes so we'll not bother trying again - just wanted it to survive for his sake!

Farway

He could try growing something else with your help, like sow an apple or an orange pip from one he has just eaten?

Apple may even fruit in a few years

elf06

We already have strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries (No fruit yet), mint and blueberries (No fruit yet) but we didn't do veg this year. Might vet him in to carrots and lettuce next year

Mojisola

elf06 wrote: »

We already have strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries (No fruit yet), mint and blueberries (No fruit yet) but we didn't do veg this year.

Do you know why you aren't getting fruit on the goosegogs and blueberries?

elf06

Not sure. They were only planted this year as teeny wee sprouts. I'm keeping an eye on my soil acidity for the blueberries which seems to be ok but I wonder if my pots are maybe overcrowded. Both look nice and healthy just no flowers or fruit.