Question
QUESTION: I have a few Better Boy Tomato Plants that have been producing in upstate S.C. all season (and due unusually warm Sept and Oct. are still producing some.)  I am headed to Boca Raton, Florida in early Nov for 6 months and have been spoiled by the delicious tomatoes.
1. Can I dig up the plants with as large a root ball as I can, and replant in a large barrel on my 7th floor balcony facing south in Boca?  Will the plant grow and continue to produce? My hope is that with a mature plant, I will not need to wait months for plant to mature and it will begin producing quickly.  Your thoughts, please.
2. I have rooted some cuttings. Will they prosper, albeit more slowing?
Thanks, Hank

ANSWER: Hi Hank, and thanks for the great question.

As better boy is an indeterminate plant, I see no problem with your rooted cuttings growing and giving you lots of tomatoes. As you indicated, it抯 like growing them from scratch, so enjoying the tomatoes produced will be a little ways down the road. And the fact they are small makes for easy transportation & adoption to the new climate of Florida. Just follow common sense transplanting techniques and you should be fine.

As for digging up you established plants and transporting them, I have never done this myself but I don抰 see why this can抰 be done. I would recommend that the soil you want to introduce them to be comparable to the soil they are coming from. Also mind that the plant does not take significant damage in the transportation. The stress of the move and transplant may hinder the production as you will loose some root mass and feeders. A healthy tomato plant should make a quick recovery with proper maintenance.

I would pick the larger, heavier fruits off the vine and lightly trim back the plant before the move. A light plastic drycleaners bag with holes in it will help contain and restrain the branches during the move as well as help retain the moisture that may be lost during the trip in the car with the a/c on.

When you do in fact transplant them into their new home in Florida keep some fish emulsion handy as a light fertilizer to help kick the plants back in to production.

I would really like to know how your journey ends up and how your plants do. I hope you can write me and let me know how you made out so I can share the info with the rest of the gardeners out there! Contact me directly at: http://www.growing-tomatoes-made-easy.com/contact-us.html thanks! John



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: John,
Thanks for the advise.
I am going to proceed with the "experiment".  First drawback, however, is to make sure I have enough room in van (we travel 'heavy' as we go for 6 months.) and the second is to get my wife to allow a barrel half on our balcony. I'll know answers to both by the first week in Nov, as we plan to leave then. By the way, my follow-up question is: Is a wooden barrel half suitable? I do not know how big a root system I will be successful in digging up, but if it's more than half the volume of the barrel, I know I won't have room. I was going to take as big a ball as practical, and trim back a good portion of the stems (they must be 6-8 feet long from base to longest end.)
I'll keep you informed, and transmit a few pics as we go.
Thanks again, Hank

Answer
Hank,

Those better boy tomatoes must have left an impression on you!

To answer your question; Yes a wooden half barrel is more than suitable for the experiment. I have grown many productive plants in them myself.

Looks to me your biggest problem, besides the size of your tomato plant, will be getting your wife to go along with your plan!

Good Luck and be careful on your drive.

John