As a new lottie owner with a severely limited number of things growing, the loss of even one is hard to take (does it ever get easy?). Went down to lottie tonight and one of my four courgettes has a break (hate to use the word snap - sounds too final) in the stem. The plant has about 6 true leaves and seemed to be doing well. Is there any chance it will be OK or is it a goner? :-[
Piglottie (trying not to sound too upset or dramatic but who was already researching courgette recipes - a little hastily by the look of things ::) )
hmmm.....I have been known, as I have mentioned before, to use selotape to repair broken stems in both tomatos, and...ahem....brussel sprouts....but not in squashes. How bad is the affliction? If more of a bend than a...don't want to say it.....umm..... fracture, then I would administer some sort of splint, but a total tearing of tissue, an open wound....I would fear for the patient (have I been watching too much 'Trauma'?), but, if you have the time and the patience, then you could try a repair, but I would worry that disease would get in......
It is a sad day when we have to say, that plant is a gonna Piglottie, but I don't look on it as loosing a plant, more gaining a space for something else!
When I planted out my courgettes one of them was a little bit leggy and the main stem bent over, just a bend and no break. I really thought that was it, a goner, but decided to leave it anyway just in case, I gave it an extra good watering in. Now, it's full of courgettes and no sign of any damage done. So Piglottie, keep fingers crossed and you might be lucky. :D
I think the prognosis is not good :( When I visit the patient again tomorrow, will consider the idea of a splint but I think the fracture is too severe to repair and it is somewhat of an open wound that may be beyond healing.
Piglottie (reporting from Ward 32 North)
Have a look at mine in Diseased Courgette page 1 - that was a small break!!
It may regrow, dpending where the break is. Are there any leaves below the break? If so, it should develop a bud in the leaf axil.
Robert - unfortunately there are no leaves below the break.
The stem of one of my courgettes was partially eaten through by some nasty bug (I suspect woodlice) a couple of weeks ago. I earthed it up and the plant is now growing strongly. Worth a try Piglottie? Of course, if all the leaves are already wilted then it's for the compost I'm afraid.
HTH
Tricia
Sow more now, direct into the ground and you will get a good crop. However, with three plants you may find that you end up with mountains of the things.......
The patient is still hanging in there - the leaves are still green but not sure if thats much to go on, as it was only on Sunday that this happened. Shall wait and see - am leaving the little blighter to fight it out on his own.
Jennym - thanks for the encouragement. First year on lottie and not sure how many plants I need for two of us. By the sound of it, 3 plants should be OK - if they survive!
For the attention of Ward 32 North
From my evening class days I seem to remember that most of the water is carried up the sides of the plant anyway, so as long as part of the edges of any stem is still intact then there is always a chance of survival. I too have used cellotape on plants with great success. Be carefull when straightening up the stem that you don't s*** it off alltogether.
I've just had a brainstorm, get some cotton wool soaked in water, jam this in the open wound, this will act as a capillary action and keep the moister going up the rest of the stem. Keep in place will cellotape. Ah, the wonders of cellotape. Just had another thought, to keep the moisture on the leaves, cover it in it's own little ICU (poly tunnel).
Good luck from Nurse Lily on Ward 9 North and South
Thank you Nurse Lily! Will be doing my rounds on Ward 32 North again tomorrow so think I will try this wonderful invention that is cellotape.
I've had success using surgical tape direct on the break itself, then some damp tissue wrapped around, held with more s.t. and then some cling film to finish. I know it sounds like a bit of an operation, but I absolutely hate it when something like this happens. Good luck PL.
Thanks for the free consultations! Most strange development with the patient. The 'fracture' has worsened and is only hanging on by a small thread (for want of a better expression) but the plant is still growing??? ??? Not sure what's happening but shall wait and see.
If the worst should happen you can always visit www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk to find yourself another plant. If you haven't already visited Jackson's Online Garden Centre please check us out by clicking the link above.
>:( Luke sling ya hook yor just spamming >:( just you wait till Dan comes back >:(
Roy
I am now really, in the US way, pissed at this guy.
My assumption is that he'll be dealt with with extreme prejudice for such blatant bad form.
Bamboo under fingernails would be too minimalist.
It sounds serious down at Ward 32. If it were a lesser fracture, I believe I could offer up a successful outpatient, as an example of the 'there's nothing to lose' philosophy...
Earlier in the year, I left a couple of germinating courgettes in the airing cupboard, without a watchful eye, for 12 hours too long. One of the poor dears was a 4" etiolated swaying triffid when rescued. The triffid (after seeking advice here) was left to get on with it, as best it could, and it eventually collapsed with an ungainly bend in the stem. The stem then split, longitudinally; and the split just got longer and longer over the next 3 weeks. By the time I planted it out, the split had to be at least 60% of the stem radius deep, and it was over 4" long. I (carefully) stuck it in a hole, and buried the entire split as securely as possible. That was a month ago. It is now happily throwing out bundles of flower buds, and it has survived the wind and rain over the past couple of days with no apparant relapse...
Dear Nurse PL, There may be hope. I had a cucumber plant eaten at the stem so I submerged stem in water for a couple of days. Then I planted in very wet compost (with water gel crystals added to preserve moisture as in my greenhouse). The once little plant has now blossomed into a healthy young adult and should be ready for planting out again. Good luck, let us all know how the patient progresses.
Gin, ITU
After much observation and further consultation, I have decided to proceed with non-evasive intervention (EJ - maybe we've all been watching too much ER et al). I'm on ward duties this afternoon and shall be visiting Ward 32 North where I intend to build up the patient's immune system - in other words I'm going to bury the fracture with some good old compost. Shall monitor the situation and report back.
Would like to thank all consultants for their advice but am sad to report that the patient has now expired. Despite our best efforts to revive the patient (earthing it up), it was to no avail.
Piglottie (Ward 32 North)
But the good news is we have 3 other courgettes doing well ;D