How to germinate bitter melon seeds? The correct germination method

Bitter melon is a cultivated species of annual climbing herbaceous plant in the Cucurbitaceae family, also known as bitter gourd or balsam pear. It originated in the tropical regions of Asia and is a warm-loving, heat-tolerant vegetable; its seeds need a temperature of around 30°C to germinate. Bitter melon seeds have a thick, hard coat and poor water permeability, so germination is relatively difficult. When planting, to ensure full and strong seedlings, artificial germination and seedling raising should be carried out. The bitter melon seed germination method mainly includes the following steps:

Rinse the seeds clean with clear water, then soak them in clear water for 12-16 hours.

Nip a small opening at the seed hilum to make it easier for the seed to absorb water and for the radicle (what people usually call the sprout) to emerge during germination. Note that no matter what method is used to nip a small opening at the seed hilum, the kernel inside must not be damaged.

Wrap the seeds in a clean, moist towel and place them at a temperature of around 30°C to germinate; after 2-3 days the radicle will emerge. Before sprouting, rinse both the towel and the seeds with clear water once a day to keep the seeds clean.

Once the seeds have sprouted, they can be sown. Because individual seeds sprout at different times, if conditions allow, the earlier-sprouted seeds can be picked out, wrapped well in a clean moist towel, and stored at low temperature in the refrigerator's cold storage compartment, then sown together once the vast majority of the seeds have sprouted.