Watermelon and pumpkin with onions?

[Ruderunner]

I thought I read where these plants get along but now can't find the reference. Did I imagine that?

 

[YumYum]

Are you thinking about the three sisters planting? Corn - beans - squash.

 

[Ruderunner]

Not really. I have an area that currently has green onions planted and if the pumpkin and watermelon aren't adversely affected, I'd like to plant them with the onions. Mainly because there's room for the plants to spread out and close enough to make watering simple.

 

[Meadowlark]

My thoughts: watermelon and onion = good, pumpkin and onion = good, watermelon and pumpkin = bad, watermelon, pumpkin and onion = bad.

 

[Ruderunner]

So pumpkin and watermelon don't do well together? Hmm.

Is it a space conflict? Or something else that can be problematic? If it's space, I can segregate them.

 

[Meadowlark]

No, it's that they compete for the same resources instead of complimenting each other.

 

[Ruderunner]

Ok. Hmm, going to have to sort this out.

Question, how far do the root systems spread on these? If I space the plants out enough they shouldn't fight too much.

Or figure out a different location for one. Problem is they spread and I don't have many good places for that.

 

[Meadowlark]

When I think of companion planting, I think of close proximity. When I plant snap peas right next to potatoes and beans right next to corn, and basil right next to tomatoes, etc. that is companion planting to me. Spreading them out wouldn't be companion planting in my definition.

Just my thoughts...and several sources agree with that listing pumpkin as the worst companion plant to watermelons

https://growers-planet.com/watermelon-companion-plants/

 

[Ruderunner]

I follow that. The onion patch is roughly 50 feet by 3 feet. I should be able to keep close to 4 feet between the pumpkins and watermelon. So, this should be ok then.