Chinese Bitter Melon - Momordica charantia
Chinese Bitter Melon - Momordica charantia
Momordica charantia
Bitter melon, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd, Bitter squash, Balsam pear, Karella, La-kwa, Leprosy gourd
In Reunion Island, it's the bitter melon. We cook it as a salad with chili.
rene, 19/01/2018
Special offer!
Receive a €20 voucher for any order over €90 (excluding delivery costs, credit notes, and plastic-free options)!
1- Add your favorite plants to your cart.
2- Once you have reached €90, confirm your order (you can even choose the delivery date!).
3- As soon as your order is shipped, you will receive an email containing your voucher code, valid for 3 months (90 days).
Your voucher is unique and can only be used once, for any order with a minimum value of €20, excluding delivery costs.
Can be combined with other current offers, non-divisible and non-refundable.
Why not try an alternative variety in stock?
View all →
Available in 0 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty
More information
We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
Description
Momordica charantia, the Chinese bitter gourd, is an ancient plant, native to South Asia. This climber is cultivated for its bitter fruit that is eaten cooked, without the skin or seeds, in traditional Reunionese and Asian cuisines. To reduce some of the bitterness, they are often blanched and then marinated. It has also been used for a long time in Asia as a traditional remedy for diabetes. Its fruits, 6 to 10cm (2 to 4in) long, resemble large pickles. Their skin is highly plicate. Sow from March to May. Harvest from July to October.
Harvest: harvest when the fruit has reached its final size. Cut the peduncle a few cm from the fruit to ensure better preservation.
Storage: like courgettes and cucumbers, the fruits can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator.
Gardener's tip: it is not very hardy (sensitive to cold), but it is highly resistant to diseases and has few pests. It is a good companion for all your vegetable plants. However, do not plant any cucurbits nearby to avoid cross-pollination.
Harvest
Plant habit
Foliage
Botanical data
Momordica
charantia
Curcubitaceae
Bitter melon, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd, Bitter squash, Balsam pear, Karella, La-kwa, Leprosy gourd
Southeast Asia
Annual
Planting and care
Sowing
In March and April, sow 2 to 3 seeds per pot, covered with 1cm (0.4in) of soil. Sow under cover. Thin out the seedlings about one month after sowing. Position the young plants in open ground when they reach about 40cm (16in) in height, at a distance of 1m (3ft) in all directions. Choose a very sunny location. In colder regions, wait until May to avoid the risk of frost.
Install a support system at planting. The plants will need assistance at the beginning, but will be able to cling on their own with their tendrils.
Cultivation
They prefer rich soil. Add decomposed manure or compost at planting. They also require regular watering to keep the soil moist. Place a mulch at their base to retain soil moisture. Hoe and weed the soil to keep it aerated and limit root competition, which the plants do not appreciate.
Seedlings
Care
Intended location
Planting & care advice
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
, onOrder confirmed
Reply from on Promesse de fleurs
Recently viewed products
Haven't found what you were looking for?
Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc.)
It will vary according to where you live:- In zones 9 to 10 (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), flowering will occur about 2 to 4 weeks earlier.
- In zones 6 to 7 (Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and lower mountainous regions), flowering will be delayed by 2 to 3 weeks.
- In zone 5 (Central Europe, Scandinavia), blooming will be delayed by 3 to 5 weeks.
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands).
It will vary according to where you live:
- In Mediterranean zones (Marseille, Madrid, Milan, etc.), autumn and winter are the best planting periods.
- In continental zones (Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, etc.), delay planting by 2 to 3 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 2 to 4 weeks in autumn.
- In mountainous regions (the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, etc.), it is best to plant in late spring (May-June) or late summer (August-September).
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.