Question
I planted my tomato plants a bit too close to each other, and they grew towards each other.  So I dug one of them out (with minimal root destruction) and replanted it a foot or two away at 3 PM on a hot day.  I didn't water it immediately, but I did water it at about 6 PM when it was rather wilted.  It is looking a bit better, but is there anything that I can do for it - beside not digging it up again.

Answer
Brian, the plant should recover just fine. Like any plant, transplanting causes an immediate shock which causes the plant to stress. Fortunately, tomatoes can tolerate transplanting better than any other plant. In the long run, they actually thrive from it. The only mistake you made was not watering it immediately, but it sounds like you caught it in time.

I would definitely keep an eye on it over the next few days. Make sure the soil stays moist until the roots are established once again. I would also mulch around the plants with straw or dried grass clippings to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool. Do not fertilize for at least two weeks, since this could further stress the root system. If all goes well by the end of the month, the plant should produce with no problem.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike