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Pataskala,OH

Will having 3 plants planted in the same hill but trained in opposite directions cause growth to slow because roots are too close? The plants are not that big and that is the only thing I can think of that would slow them down. The regular watermelon plants on the other side of the patch are gigantic go figure. The biggest giant watermelon plant only takes up about 100 sq ft.

7/7/2012 1:03:07 PM

formerly RGG

3 plants in the same hill makes them compete with each other for what is available to them. I doubt if many giant melon growers use a growing method like that. That said, you probably have other unidentified problems causing the slow growth.

7/7/2012 1:35:43 PM

Pataskala,OH

They are not right next to each other they are a few feet from each other, I am thinking about culling one of the plants now though.

7/7/2012 7:47:04 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I keep my plants at least 10 feet apart with one plant in each prepared "hill".

7/9/2012 10:22:53 AM

Pataskala,OH

I culled one of them, they should be far enough apart now, I did not know that it would have that big of an effect. Some gowers plant pumpkins back to back and they do just fine. Lesson learned for next year. Maybe the roots from the other plant grafted to the other ones and now it has a super root system. lol I think I can get to 200lbs this year, I don't know about 300 though.

7/9/2012 3:28:52 PM

Western PA

Nick,
I grew 2 last year back to back, stumps about 1 foot apart. They total area I grew them in was about 300 sq feet. They grew on fabric with drip line on top. They got little care, weeds got out of control, and I ended up with a 162 and picked the other one labor day (early)for a party. It went over 140 pounds.
With more room and cared for better, I think they could have been bigger.
As long as your soil is jacked up for pumpkins, I don't see nutrient problem, but I do think being crowded (where the vines over lap) can cause issues. Just my opinion from last years experience.
This year I gave them 300 sq ft each and stumps are 15 feet apart. We shall see.
good luck !

7/11/2012 8:03:53 AM

Pataskala,OH

It had to be overcrowding, the growth picked up on both plants as soon as I removes the third plant.

7/11/2012 9:06:12 AM