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I just bought Icebox watermelon seedlings from the nursery. The instructions just say to stick the whole batch into the ground (the inner cardboard is biodegradable). I think these are just generic instructions that appear on all the various seedlings that Bonnie sells. I'm wondering whether I need to do something extra for watermelon in particular. It appears like there are three seedlings. Do I need to space them apart or can I just plant them as is?

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JoJo
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We always hilled watermelons (and pumpkins and squash, etc.) which would be 3-4 plants in a small area, hilled up (pull the soil into a mound), with the whole area around them for them to grow into.

So plant the whole batch (and nothing else within 3 feet in any direction) looks fine by me for a garden, as opposed to a farming situation where equipment might require rows.

I would make a hill (2-3 feet diameter, 6-8 inches high) to put the pot into.

For more vigorous squash/pumpkins, the space around the hill might be 10 feet in any direction ;-)

Ecnerwal
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Icebox Watermelons range from 6-15lbs. Recommened In-Row spacing is 2-3 feet.

http://vegetables.wsu.edu/Watermelon.html

Watermelons are difficult to transplant as they do not take soil disturbance that well. Breaking these apart might cause them all to not make it, but could be worth it if it works, since you'd have 1+ of them. Retailers might overplant these transplants in case some of their seeds don't germinate, plants die, or other issues. It's recommended to plant it, and just cut back all but 1 start.

rockerBOO
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