[mebanana]

I'm growing some tomatoes in pots in my stair (I'm the last flat and the neighbours don't mind!).  One of the plants, Gardener's Delight, has developed something weird - at a certain point the stem of the plant seems to be "doubled", fusing and splitting apart along its length - a bit like those segments of orange you sometimes get that are kind of "siamese twins".

Anyway, above this point on the plant, all the leaves a growing very twisted, curling in a corkscrew fashion.  Apart from this deformity, the plant appears very healthy and has a few sets of flowers.  I can't see any sign of disease anywhere, and my other two plants are fine. 

Does anyone know what this is and/or how I should treat it?  I don't think it can set any new flowers if it carries on like this!

Pictures of the stem and leaves below!

[Baldy]

Could it just be that the stem split due to weight or wind or neighbour cat bumping plant and then the split somewhat heals as the plant continues to grow? The curled leafs could then perhaps be explained by a slightly reduced flow of nutirents/water through the damaged stem and recent dry/hot weather. Haven't come across a disease that would hit a tom in this way...

Pip pip,
Balders

[oldgrunge]

Tomatoes often produce this type of genetic freak. Often they will go on to produce normal fruit.

[LotuSeed]

I think if you keep it well supported they should be fine. My Gardener's Delight have flopped over and I just straighten them back up and tie them in.

[mebanana]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies!  I don't think it has been under stress or knocked or anything - it's inside (I'm the top floor flat and we have a big cupola so it's almost like a greenhouse).

I think it must just be a freak, as oldgrunge says.  It's quite fascinating, really - so long as it actually produces fruit.  Maybe they'll be all weird, too.  I'll keep you posted!

[surbie100]

Does having a leaf that is also a truss happen often?

I've got this happening on either the orange banana or purple unkraine toms (labels are missing) in the greenhouse. They start off as a truss and then the rest foes on to form a leaf.

Not seen that before. The plant seems quite happy.

[Salmo]

Does having a leaf that is also a truss happen often?

I've got this happening on either the orange banana or purple unkraine toms (labels are missing) in the greenhouse. They start off as a truss and then the rest foes on to form a leaf.

Not seen that before. The plant seems quite happy.

That is quite common. Best to nip the leaves off or the plant may put all its energy into those rather than swell the fruit.

[Goosegirl]

I've had this happen with toms before and it's difficult to decide which is the leader stem or if it has developed two. Also tom leaves curling down is a good sign of healthy growth so don't worry.

[surbie100]

That is quite common. Best to nip the leaves off or the plant may put all its energy into those rather than swell the fruit.

Good to know, thanks Salmo. 

[dave43]

snap ! ive got one of those splits and on a gardeners delight, it seems to be growing as normal so will keep my eye on it as it might weaken the stem and tend to break. if so a splint should do the trick.
Dave.

[LotuSeed]

Tbh, they'll probably do fine even if you don't support them. IME tomato plants are pretty resilient things. They can get top heavy, flop over and will simply grow up from the point where they are touching the ground. And they'll send out new roots readily. By itself a split vine isn't a problem. Later on in the season when blight is around it could be.