Organic White Bitter Gourd Seeds - Open Pollinated

White bitter gourd, or Karela in India, is a rare tropical vine cultivated for its tasty vegetable. This magnificent veggie is loaded with health advantages. White bitter gourd is a vegetable that grows in temperate/tropical climates and contains iron, beta carotene, potassium, and calcium. Additionally, it is high in fibre, phosphorus, and vitamins C, B1, B2, and B3.

Benefits/uses of white bitter gourd seeds

• Vitamin C, an essential micronutrient involved in disease prevention, bone formation, and wound healing, is particularly abundant in white bitter gourd.
• It is rich in Vitamin A, which benefits skin health and other vision conditions, and has other beneficial uses, fat-soluble vitamins as well.
• It supplies folic acid, which is absolutely vital for growth and development, as well as lesser quantities of zinc and iron
• White bitter gourd is also high in antioxidants that can help protect your cells to stay healthy.
• Native communities around the world use white bitter gourd for diabetes-related problems for generations.

Specifications of white bitter gourd seeds

Planting and care for white bitter gourd

Sowing white bitter gourd seeds

• White bitter gourd seeds usually have a red coating wrapped around them. The first step is to chip away some of the coatings.
• Soak the seeds in water overnight. The germination process begins with this kick so that seeds can consume large amounts of water immediately.
• Plant the seeds in the compost about 1 cm deep. In order to nurture the plant, water the pot thoroughly while avoiding a soggy or water-soaked environment which could hinder its growth
• After a few weeks, you should see the seeds begin to sprout.

Growing white bitter gourd seeds

• Use a HDPE Round Grow Bag of 18x18 Inches preferably to place the sprouts.
• A good quality Potting Mix - 100% Organic with 8 Fertilizers and 4 Beneficial Microbes should be added to the container.
• Creeper nets support hanging fruit, which helps to grow it long and straight.
• Use materials that prevent water from evaporating, including straw, which helps keep the soil moist.

Harvesting white bitter gourd

• White bitter gourd should be harvested 12 to 16 weeks after planting and 8 to 10 days after blossoming. Harvest when the fruits are 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) long.
• The fruits would be pear-shaped and have light white skin with yellow stripes.

Precautions while growing white bitter gourd

• Bitter gourd climber necessitates the use of a trellis or a creeper net for support.
• It is recommended that the plant be grown in direct sunlight.
• This climber demands a lot of water, which is why it thrives during the monsoon season.
• All gourds require at least 100 frost-free days to develop.
•  Plant gourds once the soil temperature has reached 70° to 80°F.
• Start seeds indoors 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting into the garden to get a head start on the season.

Common Problems affecting white bitter gourd plants and solutions

• The undersides of the leaves curl inward, becoming deformed and yellowish. Aphids are small, oval, and generally white in colour and can be found on the underside of leaves.
•  Plants are more vulnerable to damage from powdery mildew when they are young, so you can use fungicides like Trichoderma Viride Bio Fertilizer 
• or biopesticides to protect them.
• They leave behind adhesive, blackish scum excrement called honeydew, which can become scummy mold. Consider using insecticidal soap, organic neem cake or Pseudomonas Fluorescens Biofertilizer as a solution.
• Adding an organic amendment to a planting bed will help to promote good drainage. The key for long term plant survival is to ensure moist but well-drained soil. Do not over-water the plant roots.   

No. of White Bitter Gourd Seeds - 7