The combination of strong winds and heavy rain causes havoc in the vegetable garden.� Potatoes and onions look terrible, with leaves on the ground in a tangled mess.

The same thing happened a couple of weeks ago when the new potatoes were bashed down.� But five days later, the potato leaves were upright and looking well.� They had recovered with no ill effects.

So, hopefully, last night’s weather will not have any harmful consequences.

Plants will keep growing if the water and food channels (the xylem and phloem)� still function.� A long time ago I was playing with a friend in their orchard and we broke a� branch on a young apple tree, so that it was just hanging off.� Luckily it was a medical family, and the doctor used a twig to form a splint, and tightly bandaged the twig back into place.� After a few weeks, the bandage was replaced with loose elastoplast, and the twig healed.

If sunflowers have blown over and the stem has kinked, the water and food may not be able to flow through the stem.� But if the stem is lifted and supported, with something like a cane, it will probably recover.� It is worth giving the plant a chance to recover from the injuries caused by the wind and rain.