Bitter gourd is a tropical vine that comes from the gourd family that includes cucumber and pumpkin. The organic Indian variety has rough ragged spikes on the rind and is narrow with a pointed edge. Bitter gourd is cultivated around the world for food for a variety of health benefits, which includes cholesterol control, decreasing blood sugar level, aiding in immunity, growth and development and increasing vision.

Benefits/Uses of Green Short Bitter Gourd Seeds

1 cup of bitter gourd (94 grams) has 93% vitamin C, 44% vitamin A, 17% folate and 8% potassium.
Vitamin C is essential to improve immunity, regulate bone formation and fasten wound healing.
Potassium, zinc and folate in bitter gourds facilitate growth and development.
Taking 20 grams of bitter gourd could decrease blood sugar levels and increase blood haemoglobin.
Recent researches suggest that bitter gourd has the potential to fight breast, colon and stomach cancer.
Help decrease cholesterol levels thereby increase heart health.

Specifications of Green Short Bitter Gourd Seeds

Common name	Bitter Gourd/ Bitter melon/ Karela
Temperature	20 degree celsius
Water	Sufficient water to keep soil moist not soggy
Sunlight	5 to 8 hours of sun
Soil	Well-drained, slightly loose, sandy loamy soil
Fertilizer	Natural compost or organic manure
Germination	3-4 weeks
Harvest season	2.5 to 3 months after seed sowing
pH	6-7
No. of seeds	5

Sowing and Caring

Use a comfortable Grow bag like Seed2Plant HDPE round grow bags to plant.
Use organically enriched potting mix like the one we have to pot the seeds. Leave one inch gap from the top of the grow bag.
Keep the soil slightly loose for the roots to breathe.
Water appropriately such that the soil is moist and not soggy.
Place the pot in a location that receives warm sunlight for at least 6 hours a day.
The seeds will germinate in 2-3 weeks. Since bitter gourd is a vine plant, it can grow up to 5-6 inches. When the vines start growing use a support net/ trellis like the Seed2Plant support net to enable faster climbing of vines.
Pruning of dead leaves will stimulate growth.
If the bitter gourd has more flowers and lesser fruits, pollination is recommended to stimulate fruiting. A soft cotton brush can be used gently to pollinate the plant.

Harvest

Harvest can begin 2-4 months after planting the seeds and should be harvested before the fruit turns yellow.
The optimal size of the gourd will be 2-4 inches during harvest.
Mature gourds are light green. The fruits can be picked every 2-3 days.
The fruit can be stored for food in refrigerators for up to 1 week.
The longer the gourd stays in the vine, the bitter it will get.

Common Problems

Bitter gourds are prone to pest attacks like spider mites, aphids and fruit flies.
Common diseases that affect the plant include the mosaic virus, powdery mildew, downy mildew and cucurbit disease.

Precautions

Adding nitrogen-rich organic manure like the Seed2Plant Azospirillum Nitrogen-fixing biofertilizer to the soil will stimulate the growth of the gourd.
Application (foliar spraying) of neem oil like Seed2Plant Water-soluble neem oil will prevent pest and fungal attacks.
Using potassium-rich organic fertilizers like the Seed2Plant A2 Desi Cow Panchagavya will stimulate faster fruiting and flowering.
Reaping the fruit in paper bags is recommended to prevent attacks from fruit flies after reaping.

No. of Green Short Bitter Gourd Seeds - 5