HERB - HELP Transplant emergency

[CalStrmWtr@aol.com]

I was told last night that I have about a month to dig up ALL my rare herbs, 
tomatos, chard, basil, cilantro, beans and marigolds.  My landlord is 
embarking on regrading almost her entire property due to flood like 
conditions and stagnant water during years of high rainfall since they had 
the good sense to build the house in a drainage area.  It's for a good 
purpose, as I would lose all my plants as she did if it rains hard (the 
property had so much water she couldn't mow the lawn for four months).  Also, 
the soil is so clayey and compacted that the grading will give opportunity 
for good amending.  Anyway, the real problems are 1) I've never successfully 
dug up and kept alive plants in containers, 2) in Southern California right 
now we have 100 degrees, drying heat conditions, which makes containers very 
difficult and could make the shock worse, and 3) I have to decide whether or 
not the plants would handle the shock of beign replanted at a relative short 
time after being dug up.  Some of the plants have only been in the ground for 
six weeks.  So I don't know if just deciding to have my herbs in containers 
for the next year (that's when we hope to have our own home) rather than 
replant, then have to take them out again when they are bigger.  Any 
suggestions, tips, experiences would be welcomed.   I have about a week to 
plan my attack :).

Fiametta
============================================================================
Go to http://lists.ansteorra.org/lists.html to perform mailing list tasks.