Transplanting watermelons??

Question:In March the kids and I started watermelon seeds inside our house, in plasic cups. then last month we transplanted them to about 5 gallon planters, now they are growing so big, and beautiful, almost over the planter pots, the deal is we are moving to our new home in 3 weeks and i read it is not good to transplant them. So do I leave them in the buckets or do i risk replanting them?? This is my first time ever planting something...Help.Washington state..

Answers:
Definitely at this stage you just let them grow in the buckets. The root systems are so extensive that the certainty of killing them by transplanting them now is 100%.

When you move them, do not put them in the back of a truck where the heat will kill them. You do not say how far away you are moving or how you plan on moving the plants. An enclosed truck will kill them if they are going to be in there for more than a few minutes. Do not transport in an open truck where the wind from a long trip at high speeds will kill them too. If you are just going across town and the trip is only a few minutes, you should be ok.

Rule: Protect them from high heat and high winds.

All should be ok.

My answer is dependent on where you live in Washington, east or west?

Two completely different places.

If you live in Tri Cities or Walla Walla, I would say start over and leave the plants behind. There is plenty of time to get watermelons if you plant now.

If in Western Washington, like Seattle, just protect the plants as much as possible when you move.

Good Luck!
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