Growing Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) is not at all… difficult; on the contrary, cultivating this plant is quite easy from seed sowing, care, to harvest.
Despite being the most bitter among fruits, bitter melon is loved by many and is quite popular due to its unique bittersweet flavor that is refreshing and very beneficial for health. Not only the fruit but every part of the bitter melon plant also serves as a valuable medicinal ingredient. If you are a fan of bitter melon, why not grow these fruits right in your own garden?
Bitter melon is a very easy plant to grow, resilient, and relatively easy to care for. Particularly, July and August are the most suitable months for planting this crop since the hot weather combined with abundant rainfall creates favorable conditions for the plant to thrive and yield high productivity. So, what’s stopping urban gardeners from having a bitter melon trellis right at home?
Here is a super simple way to grow bitter melon that anyone can do immediately.
Step 1: Prepare the Seeds
To obtain quality bitter melon seeds, you should select large, plump fruits that feel heavy in hand. Alternatively, you can purchase bitter melon seeds from reputable seed stores.
Use a knife to cut the bitter melon lengthwise, then use a spoon to scoop out and collect the seeds, rinse them clean, and let them dry for storage until the right time to sow.
Step 2: Sow the Seeds
Treat the seeds by soaking them in warm water using the 2 hot 3 cold method for about 5-6 hours, then remove and wrap them in a damp cloth. After 24 hours, wash off any sticky residue on the seed coat and rewrap them until the seeds crack open, then you can sow them.
When sowing, place the seed with the pointed end facing downwards, and cover it with a thin layer of soil. Afterwards, water it. In about 5 days, the seeds will start to germinate and grow upwards.
After about 3 weeks, the plant will reach a height of about 10 to 15 cm and will have 2 to 3 true leaves.
Step 3: Build a Trellis for the Bitter Melon
When the plant reaches 25 to 30 cm in height, starts producing 5 to 6 true leaves, and has begun to develop tendrils, it is time to transplant it into a larger pot or directly into the garden soil, and then set up a trellis for it.
Once the bitter melon has tendrils, it grows rapidly; you can use a net for the bitter melon to climb on.
Transfer the seedlings to the prepared planting area and proceed to build a trellis for them to climb. You need to water regularly, about 2 times a day, to ensure sufficient moisture for the plant’s growth and development.
Step 4: Care and Harvest
Flowers typically begin to appear on the trellis within a few weeks after planting. Male flowers will bloom first, while female flowers, which have a small ovary at the base, will bloom about a week later.
You can let pollinators like bees do the pollination or do it manually. Note that male flowers only live for about one day, blooming in the morning and dropping by evening.
After the flowers bloom for about 5 days, the plant will start producing fruit. The young fruits will emerge from the stem after the flower has withered and will gradually grow to the standard size over time.
At this stage, it is advisable to prune excess leaves that grow too thick near the young fruits to ensure they receive enough light for optimal growth.
Bitter melon is an easy-to-grow plant; however, to achieve the best results, you should plant it in sandy soil rich in organic matter that is loose and airy. Regular watering is necessary, especially during the flowering and fruiting stages. You can also apply base fertilizer when planting and top-dress at key growth stages.
Bitter melon is grown in two seasons: summer-autumn and winter-spring, with summer-autumn yielding significantly higher productivity. It takes about 2 months from sowing to fruit maturity. When the plant bears fruit, you can harvest every 2 to 3 days.
In addition to being a nutritious food, bitter melon also serves as a valuable medicinal ingredient, known for its cooling properties, helping to clear heat and promote urination. Fresh bitter melon juice is effective in lowering blood sugar levels, making it an ideal food for diabetics, and it particularly helps prevent serious diseases like cancer.
