I need some advice regarding moving potted vegetables.

Canada
August 31, 2010 6:26am CST
I'm moving in 2 days and I'm wondering if there's anything special I need to do in order to move my vegetables safely. I was hoping they'd have ripened already but no such luck. I have 3 tall pepper plants, a few long cucumber plants, quite a few tall lettuce plants and 2 tomato plants without cages, the pots aren't deep enough for them. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Thanks.
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1 response
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
1 Sep 10
Hi Kris. You don't mention whether these are already in pots or not. One way to move them safely is to transplant them into 5 or ten gallon containers. (You might be able to get some free if there's a construction site nearby if they're using drywall mud or something.) Usually if a veggie plant is a full grown one, they die from the shock of transplant. Taking as much of the earth it's growing in, and not really disturbing the roots, will give it a better chance. When you transplant them into the bucket, make sure to pack the soil down so there isn't any air pockets around the roots (but don't pack too tight!) Then, when you get to where you're moving to, do NOT set them in the direct sunlight. If there's a bush you can set them under, or where they get filtered sun and shade, they won't shock as much. The pepper plants probably would move good, but I'm not so sure about the cukes. Maybe if a long stick could be planted in the pot with it so that the vining doesn't get crushed? For the tomato plants,if you don't want to move the entire plant, I would make a cutting off the top and plant it into a new pot so it can start again. (Using a rooting hormone, such as Rootone, so it takes off better.) I have moved tomato plants this way, and brought them in to winter. Doing it this way you don't have to lose the immature tomatoes that are already on the vine. You can either hang the cut vine (with the tomatoes on it) upside down to ripen. Or you can pick them, and when you get to the new place find a dark area (basement, etc) and lay them on newspaper (don't let them touch each other.) The newsprint actually helps them ripen. Good luck with your move!
• Canada
1 Sep 10
Thanks for the information. I didn't know I could keep the tomato plants going over the winter. Everything is in planters, some too shallow to even think about transplanting as I already removed a pepper plant. I cut the peppers off today and fed them to the guinea pigs. But there are a couple more growing so I'll have to take them with me. My backyard is shady, so I know they'll be ok back there. I'm just hoping what's left survives the drive over tomorrow.
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