When Is the Best Time to Plant Bitter Melon? Reasons for Not Fruiting and Solutions

Bitter melon is a common vegetable in China. It not only clears internal heat but also has high nutritional value. In particular, the juice extracted from it can effectively help with weight loss, so it is very popular among people who are trying to lose weight. It is currently grown in many regions, so when is the best time to plant bitter melon? Why does it fail to fruit?

I. Introduction to Bitter Melon:

1. Is bitter melon a cooling or warming food?

Bitter melon is a cooling vegetable, but it is rich in nutrients. Eating it regularly can clear heat and reduce internal heat, making it very suitable for eating in summer. At the same time, freshly squeezed raw juice can effectively help with weight loss.

2. Why is bitter melon bitter?

Because bitter melon contains a substance called cucurbitacin, it tastes bitter. However, if it is cooked the right way, it is still quite delicious. At the same time, after eating it for a while, you get used to it and no longer find it bitter.

II. When Is the Best Time to Plant Bitter Melon?

Bitter melon can be planted at any time, but it is generally best to plant it in March to April.

1. Open-field planting time: It is generally best to plant from the end of March to early April, and transplanting and setting out can be done in early May.

2. Greenhouse and polytunnel planting time: It is generally planted in February. In northern regions, sowing is generally done from the end of March to early April, with planting out in early May; in the Yangtze River basin region, sowing is generally done in mid-March, with planting out in mid-April; in southern China, sowing is generally done from January to May or from July to August.

In one sentence: in southern regions, open-field planting is generally chosen from January to March, while in northern regions, greenhouse or polytunnel planting is generally chosen from March to April.

III. Why Does Bitter Melon Fail to Fruit?

Reason 1. Fruit abortion: After bitter melon flowers, if there is insufficient light, poor pollination, or the root fruit is not picked in time, the young fruit will gradually shrivel, leading to fruit abortion.

Solution: After bitter melon flowers, increase light exposure to promote photosynthesis in the plant and improve young fruit growth. At the same time, you can remove the stamen flowers yourself and then apply the pollen to the pistil to improve the pollination rate and thus increase fruit set. In addition, root fruits that have already grown to maturity should be removed in time so that the young fruits can grow healthily.

Reason 2. Excessive vegetative growth: When bitter melon is flowering, if fertilization is improper or the temperature is too high, the plant will grow too vigorously, leading to excessive vegetative growth without fruiting.

Solution: After bitter melon flowers, apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers reasonably, and take cooling measures during high summer temperatures. For excessive vegetative growth, remove side vines in time to reduce nutrient consumption. In addition, if you have time, it is best after the female and male flowers open to remove the male flowers every morning from 7 to 9 a.m., remove the petals, and gently apply some stamen pollen to the pistil to improve the pollination rate and promote fruiting. If the excessive growth is severe, you can apply some forchlorfenuron solution to the pedicel of the female flower on the day it opens, which can also control excessive growth.

Overall, bitter melon can be planted at any time, but it is best to sow from the end of March to early April, as this can improve the survival rate. In addition, during the flowering period, ensure sufficient light, actively carry out hand pollination, and reasonably apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers, so that the fruiting rate can be improved.