How to Grow Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) Well? Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Management Techniques

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a species in the Momordica genus, and its appearance closely resembles that of bitter melon. It can be used both as a vegetable and as a medicinal plant. In many places it is also called "lai grape," though the reason why is unclear to this editor. So how exactly should bitter gourd be grown well? Today let's take a look together at the high-yield cultivation methods for bitter gourd.

1. Planting Preparation

Planting preparation mainly includes three aspects: preparing the planting site, mixing nutrients, and selecting seeds. Bitter gourd does not have excessive requirements for the planting site, but when preparing the land, care should be taken to use machinery for plowing, break up the soil clods, and shape the bed surface into a trapezoid. Nutrients are mainly mixed at 40 percent organic fertilizer, 50 percent soil-and-manure compost, and 10 percent compound fertilizer, plant ash, and the like. For bitter gourd seeds, choose plump seeds that are not moldy and free of pest damage for sowing.

2. Seedbed Raising of Seedlings

Before sowing, the seedbed needs to be prepared. The seedbed should be on relatively higher ground with sufficient water and good drainage. After the seedbed is ready, the seeds also need to be soaked in warm water and kept in a suitable environment for germination. Once most of the seeds have split open, they can be sown and raised into seedlings. When sowing, first water the seedbed thoroughly, then scatter the seeds evenly over it, and gently pat them down to press the seeds into the soil.

3. Transplanting Seedlings

Generally in about ten days, the bitter gourd seedlings will all emerge. During this period, we do not need to water or fertilize. When the seedlings grow to about 15 cm, they can be transplanted. It is best to choose an overcast or rainy day for transplanting, as this gives a higher survival rate for the transplanted seedlings. When planting, the row spacing is about 70 to 80 cm, and the plant spacing is about 50 to 60 cm.

4. Building Supports and Trellises

When the weather is relatively cold, we can grow them in a greenhouse, which requires building a greenhouse. Ordinary materials are generally sufficient for the greenhouse. The height of the greenhouse should generally reach about 2 m, and the space of the greenhouse is about 2 m wide. To avoid pest damage to bitter gourd and to increase its yield to a certain extent, after the seedlings are established we can build supports in a well-shaped (#) pattern, then use ropes to guide the seedlings onto the supports to climb and grow.

5. Later-Stage Management

After planting, water thoroughly, then after about a week of growth, spray an appropriate amount of potassium fertilizer. Bitter gourd has strong drought resistance, but it grows better in a moist environment, so later watering needs to be reasonably regulated according to the moisture level of the soil. When the base fertilizer is applied sufficiently, later fertilization will also be relatively easy; generally, it is enough to fertilize before flowering and after each harvest. For weeding, chemical agents generally should not be used; manual weeding and cultivating weeding give better results. Finally, note that when the bitter gourd seedlings grow to about 1 m, the tops should be removed to promote branch growth, which can increase the yield of bitter gourd.

That is all for what this editor wants to share with everyone today. I believe that through the above, everyone has gained some understanding of bitter gourd seeds. If you encounter other problems during the planting process, you can consult us, and we also hope this article can help more people in need.