Uprooting my garden

[kfan]

Hi! I thought I'd repost here as I didn't get any responses so far on my previous thread ...

I had my first real veg garden last year, with some successes and some failures, but this year it will get a bit more complicated. We will be moving house in June and the garden there is a mess.

I want to take some of my perennial plants, including my rhubarb, jerusalem artochoke, chard, globe artichoke, herbs and asparagus. But what is the best method: should I pot them up now that they are still dormant? Or wait as close as possible to the move? Same question really for my cut-flower perennials such as peonies, roses, daylilly and crocosmia.

Also, when I sow veg, can I grow it on in pots to then plant it in June (assuming some of it will be a lot larger than when Id plant it out normally)? I would love to have at least some harvest instead of a completely wasted year, just not sure how best to do it.

Any advice or other things I should think about?

Thanks!!!!

[veggiechicken]

You probably need several different approaches depending on what you're taking.
Most of your perennial plants will be coming into maturity around about June, so digging them up then means you'll lose your crop - especially if there is a delay between digging them up and finding a suitable place to replant in your new garden. So I'd dig those up now while they're still just about dormant and put them in pots. If you have large enough plants, I'd pot up half and leave half in situ so that you have two chances at getting it right!
The same goes for the flowers - except that you are not intending to eat those so losing the flowers is not quite so crucial.
Veg in pots covers a multitude of different veggies! You may need to tailor your growing to those veg that can happily live out their lives in pots. You can sow more in situ in June.
Make sure that you specify what plants you are taking from the garden - if you are selling - as the purchaser may not be expecting the garden to be stripped of so many plants!

[kfan]

Thanks!! I never thought of leaving some in the ground to have a second chance if you like. Great idea.

We rent, and when we arrived it was completely empty except for some weeds and large overgrown shrubs. We tidied and I will leave a lot of perennial flowers in the garden, so if anything it's a major improvement sure my landlord will agree.

Again, great advice, Ill do some research on container growing to see what best to sow now for a container harvest .

[veggiechicken]

How long have your perennial veg been in the ground? Rhubarb you may still be able to split. Globe artichokes - take off shoots and root them up. Asparagus I'm not sure about. Chard tends to be biennial or self seeded annual. If the herbs are small pot them up now before they really get going.
Good luck

[SarzWix]

Brassicas like cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts are all happy being grown in modules and potted up until you can plant them out, ditto tomatoes, peppers, chillis, most salad leaves/lettuce, leeks... Some pumpkins/squash will be okay too. Sweetcorn would hate it, beans aren't keen either in my experience, and most root veg would fork or bolt.

[Bigmallly]

On top of what has been said, as you live so far north, I would be tempted to sow some seeds in modules a couple of weeks before you move.

[kfan]

Thanks guys! my garden starts to look like a nursery with all the pots and trays standing around now. Tried to make an inventory today and I never realised how many varieties of plants I have!! Quite exciting.

[wizzbang]

I'm looking forward to reading all the replies to this because I will also find them helpful. I have some plants that I had to dig up from my own house and I will be doing the same as you.

Hi! I thought I'd repost here as I didn't get any responses so far on my previous thread ...

I had my first real veg garden last year, with some successes and some failures, but this year it will get a bit more complicated. We will be moving house in June and the garden there is a mess.

I want to take some of my perennial plants, including my rhubarb, jerusalem artochoke, chard, globe artichoke, herbs and asparagus. But what is the best method: should I pot them up now that they are still dormant? Or wait as close as possible to the move? Same question really for my cut-flower perennials such as peonies, roses, daylilly and crocosmia.

Also, when I sow veg, can I grow it on in pots to then plant it in June (assuming some of it will be a lot larger than when Id plant it out normally)? I would love to have at least some harvest instead of a completely wasted year, just not sure how best to do it.

Any advice or other things I should think about?

Thanks!!!!

[Victoria26]

Hi Kfan,

My husband and I move aroundevery two years as he's in the army. So far it hasnt stopped me taking the majority of my garden with me. I keep Raspberries, blueberries, gooseberrys and 2 apple trees in tubs and pots and usually split and devide my rhubarb, clematis, dahlias, aliums etc the day before the removal men come. Unfortunatley asparagus will not transport well as it hates being disturbed. However, my view on this is that I'd rather try and fail than not try at all. Just dig them up in a 'trench', trying to keep it as together and unsettled as possible and put it in a deep enough trough/windowbox.

Its also a good idea to chat to your removal company as some of them refuse to transport plants and pots. (I've never had a problem though, I usually find being super friendly and having loads of cakes and tea on tap helps with the inability to refuse one little request) If all else fails the promise of a few dominos pizzas and some cold beers is a winner... hahaha.

I took seedlings and modules in the car as any i left in the dark van got destroyed or died off. Depending what time of year you move you may have to just accept that you wont have carrots and other roots (unless you plant these in pots and take them)

Hope some of this helps toots! Happy moving! x x

[Harrod Horticultural]

I would agree with others on this thread and pot your perennials up now whilst they are dormant and take the opportunity to split some at the same time to make more plants for your new garden. With regards to moving plants or growing veg in pots, I would say 'try anything'. Just because the books say some veg don't like pots, it's still worth a try. I sowed swede in pots a couple of seasons ago and didn't plant them out until they were quite big. Several people commented that they are notorious for not liking to be moved and disturbed. Yet still I had a bumper crop. You have nothing to lose but the price of the seed. Give anything a go. Good luck!

[kfan]

Thanks guys! I have been in the garden every morning trying to get everything prepped. Tend to arrive at work with dirty fingernails and even once with a smudge of mud on my face I missed in the rush to get to work, hihi. Who knew my garden was this big??

I will try sowing roots in modules and then potting them on as they go in decomposable pots to then plant out - as has been said: why not try. And the best thing is drawing up plans for the new garden!!

[Dotty Sarah]

Hi Kfan, If you want to grow plants to take with you I've had some great success with growing carrots, potatoes etc in the reusable shopping bags you get from tesco and other stores. They're made of some kind of woven plastic, just like the bags you can buy specifically for potatoes, but they have the useful addition of carry handles. They're also much cheaper and come in sizes large enough that you won't need to worry about repotting, just stick a few drainage holes in the bottom and off you go. Good luck with the move.