Transplanting tomatoes, can you cut roots?

[carmeliasue]

Ok let me see if I can explain this to where it makes sense. My friend has an Aerogarden, if you don't know what that is it is a very expensive growing system that you buy these pre-seeded pacts that you put in these little holes in the top of the container, than you fill the bottom with water and the stuff grows. So my friend has three tomatoe plants growing in it and since he is moving I told him I would take the plants and transplant them. Well once I got the system home and really looked at it, I don't think that it is designed for that. The roots of the tomatoe plants have all tangled together and have grown under these plastic bars in the system. Bottom line is no matter how careful I am taking these plants out the roots are going to get ripped or I will have to cut them. So can you cut roots and have the plant still live and thrive? If so exactly how do I do this? I am new to gardening and I am growing a bunch of vegetables this spring and summer. Thanks in advance.

[jamesl]

no

[mphshuney]

Be gentle!!!! Only cut as many of the roots that you need to to get the plants out. If you leave 50% of the roots,,,,, they should be OK. When you replant,,,, plant about half of the stem into the dirt. The stem will grow roots out the sides.