Growing Bitter Melon Plants

Bitter Melon Plant

Bitter melon is found in many nations across Asia. It is also a native to many other nations which are situated in the tropical belt of the world. It is many a times found in wild but, some farmers have also considered to cultivate it.

The intense bitterness of this vegetable gives it the name 'bitter melon'. Some of the other names that are used commonly are balsam pear, bitter gourd and Ku Gua. The scientific or botanical name of the bitter melon is 'momordica charantia'. The bitter melon plant is a creeper and looks very much like a cucumber vine. The vine of bitter melon is characterized by curly growth, tendrils and brilliant flowers that are yellow in color. The bitter melon itself is a very odd looking vegetable. It has an oblong shape and is greenish in color. A very curious feature of this fruit is the external skin that is extremely rough and knobbly. The bitter melon is used to make curry in India. In some of the Indian recipes the bitter melon is also fried or boiled. Young children especially dislike this vegetable recipes due to its bitterness.

Growing Bitter Melons

The process of planting and growing the bitter melon plant is pretty straight forward. The bitter melon plant does not require a lot of care as the plant is adapted to the wild. The following are some of the steps for growing a bitter melon pant.

• Step 1: The bitter melon seeds are now available in most of the non tropical countries. You will need to checkout the nearest nursery or botanical garden in your locality. Another way of acquiring the seeds is ordering then through the Internet.
• Step 2: The next step is to germinate the seeds. To germinate the seeds, keep them in water for a time span of about 48 hours. After 48 hours the seeds start to swell up. Take off the outer covering of the seed. Be careful while taking off the cover and do not damage the seed inside.
• Step 3: Make a small hole in moist soil that is about ¾ inch deep. It is very important to keep the soil moist, till the green shoot of the plant pops out of the ground. This shoot is botanically known as the cotyledon. It takes about a week for the cotyledon to come on the surface of the soil.
• Step 4: The bitter melon plant has to be transplanted after about two leaves have appeared on its shoot. The place of transplantation has to be dry and also sunny, as this plant is a victim of fungal diseases. Insert a six feet tall pole in the ground that acts like a support for the creeper. Transplant the bitter lemon creeper on a sunny day when the temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also very important that the roots and the soil around the roots are not disturbed while the creeper is being transplanted.
• Step 5: To reap better bitter melons, water the creeper every day preferably in the mornings. If possible, also place some hay or grass around the base of the creeper to keep the soil damp. You can also tie the creeper with a delicate cotton or woolen thread to the pole.
• Step 6: In tropical or warm conditions, the bitter lemon appears on the creeper after a time span of about 80 days from the day of transplanting.

Remember, not to be very eager and eat raw bitter melon in a hurry, won't taste nice. A raw bitter melon is very bitter and has to be cooked before it is tasted.