How to fix a broken tomato plant – and never throw another one away ever again

Tomato plants are incredibly resilient. However, it's a worrying sight when you accidentally snap a single stem. Don't panic – it happens to the best of us, and thankfully, it doesn't mean the end of your plant.

Growing tomatoes is a joy, and that pleasure we get from growing our own produce shouldn't end with a seemingly broken tomato plant.

'It’s a bit of an occupational hazard dealing with snapped tomato seedlings. Despite growing tomatoes yearly, this still happens to me and is hard to avoid if you’re starting plants off indoors, where pets or tiny hands can easily cause damage to their fragile stems. The good news is that despite tomato stems being easy to break, they are also super easy to propagate,' says Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens, at Homes & Gardens.

How to save a broken tomato stem

To fix a broken tomato plant, follow these expert-approved steps:

1. Assess the damage

If the stem or branch is broken but not fully severed, it's more likely to heal. If it has completely snapped off, you'll need to try to salvage the plant in other ways. If this is the case, read on.

2. Support the broken plant

For a partially broken stem or branch, gently bend the broken area back into place. You can support this stem with a splint made of a small bamboo stake. If you don't have specific plant stakes, a simple stick will do the job.

Use plant ties or soft string to secure it without damaging the plant. Make sure it is not too tight, as this can restrict growth, or even worse, cause further damage. These green plant stakes from Amazon are adjustable and come with ties for ease.

'If you’re growing them outside, another way would be to protect them with a chicken wire cloche until they are stronger and able to withstand the elements a little better,' says Rachel.

3. Prune damaged leaves

If your stem cannot be reattached, ensure the stem end has a clean cut, and prune the tomato plant to remove any lower leaves from the cutting. A regular trim will stop tomato leaves turning yellow too.

4. Place the stem in water

Once ready, place the freshly-trimmed stem in a jar of fresh water on a sunny windowsill. After a few hours, the stem will perk up, and you should start to see roots developing in 1-2 weeks.

5. Repot once you see roots

Once the cutting has a decent root system of about an inch in length, you can pot this up and grow it on as a new plant. It’s the easiest way to propagate a tomato plant that has snapped. This method works for all tomato varieties.

'I use this hydroponic gardening method to create new mint and rosemary plants too,' explains Rachel.

6. Create the right environment for growth

If you want to increase tomato yields, keep the plant in a sheltered area with good airflow and light. I love growing tomato plants indoors, especially as it can get frosty in early spring. Avoid excessive handling, which can cause further stress to this delicate plant.

Check the plant regularly for signs of new growth, but also watch out for tomato disease. Even if you do spot any problems, it is not always the death knell, and there are ways to deal with many tomato growing mistakes as long as you act fast.