Crazy Idea...?

[vixylix]

So, for those of you who don't know (anyone? )- I'm moving house at some point in the next few months. We think its likely to be end of August / September in which case alot the annual veg can be scrapped rather than moved - however I want to be prepared a) in case the move is earlier and b) in case things arent ready to be scrapped.

So... I'm thinking of planting my tomatoes into MFBs and then into the raised bed (with drainage holes rather than bottomless) - then when we move I can just pull the full bucket out.

BUT
* I am concerned about watering - I don't have a hosepipe for easy or fast watering and I work full time 9 - 5 so early evening is the only time anything gets watered. Will they get too dry in buckets or will them being 'in' the raised bed help to keep them cool and moist?
* Am I deluding myself that I will even be able to move a triffid come the end of Summer? I'm planning on growing them as cordons - but they got a bit out of hand last year!

Thanks in advance

p.s. apologies this is not a VC-style crazy idea

[veggiechicken]

I don't think watering will be a problem as I grow most of my toms like that in the GH.............but, you may have difficulty moving a cordon tom in September as it will be tall, staked and, hopefully, laden with toms.
If I'd come up with this crazy idea I'd grow bush toms

[Tripmeup]

You'll be fine watering wise and good idea about the buckets for moving purposes...so, don't panic

[Bigmallly]

Good luck with the move Vix, I think come Sept your Toms will be coming to the end of their ........erm..........term.......................so it may be just a case of picking any remaining Toms off the plants.

[Cadalot]

There is always green tomato chutney

[muddled]

I think it sounds like a plan.
If it doesn't work you've lost nowt.

Re; the watering....A pop bottle with the bottom cut off, upturned in the pot and tied to the stake can be filled with a watering can before work to give a litre of water throughout the day. Will help stop blight spores splashing onto the leaves as well.

[Containergardener]

Go for it !

[skeggijon]

Hopefully the Toms will be pretty much done by the time you come to move. My only concern about putting the buckets in the raised bed is that, even with just drainage holes in the bottom, there's a good chance that the roots are going to go through the holes and into the raised bed, making it difficult to move them safely if required.
I grow some of mine in the polytunnel like this and sometimes struggle to remove the buckets at the end of the season due to the root system.

[Elfeda]

better grow your tomatoes in ground and thus use your space as much now. any time when you are moving in between, you can trim your tomato plants, pot up and take with you. they get transplant very well any point of time. use your mfb's for dwarf/salad crops which you can move them easily and enjoy.

[Chippy Minton]

My thought is they'll grow no problem like that but I'm not sure about the logistics of moving them....

I'd have them included in the sales particulars as "sitting tenants" and demand visitation rights until they're all harvested, failing that set up an access route now and just scrump them in the event you swell the house before ripening....

[vixylix]

Thanks all - Chippy I like your thinking but could I trust them to water them?

I think I agree with Muddled that there's nothing to lose... I'll cross the whether I physically can move them bridge when I get there!!

And VC - I do have some bush toms as well - they will be in hanging baskets so if all else fails hopefully they will be moveable.

Remember all - this is just toms. Wait til I decide to take the cucumbers, corn, peas and runner beans with me too