Bitter gourd
The fruits of the Bitter gourd (or Bitter melon) are eaten as a vegetable. As can be expected from the name, the bitter gourd has a very bitter taste.
Names
Scientific
Momordica charantia
English
Bitter gourd
Bitter melon
Bittergourd
Dutch
Balsempeer
Bitterkomkommer
Sopropo
Spanish
Cundeamor chino
Melón amargo
French
Margose
German
Balsambirne
Bittere Spring-Gurke
Bittergurke
Bittermelone
Other
Goya
Karela
Taxonomy
Genus
Momordica
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Order
Cucurbitales
Basic information and facts
Origin:
The origin of bittergourd is not known, but it originates of the tropics.
Distribution:
Bittergourd is found in many tropical countries including the Indian subcontinent (India, nepal, etc.), Southeast Asia, China, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.
Annual, biennial, or perennial:
Bittergourd is a perennial vine.
Plant:
Bitter gourd is a vine. The climbing vines can be up to 10 meters long. It is grown for its edible fruit.
Flowers:
Yellow flowers of about 3 cm diameter. The flowers open just for one day. The plant has separate male and female flowers.
Leaves:
The size of the leaves is 2.5 to 10 cm by 3 to 12 cm. Leaves have 3 to 9 clear lobes.
Fruits:
The fruit of the bitter gourd is one of the most bitter vegetables. It looks like a green warty cucumber. Depending on the variety the size may vary from 6 to 30 centimeters. When the fruits get ripe they turn orange and split open, exposing the seeds covered in a red pulp.
Climate and weather:
Bitter gourd is a tropical and subtropical plant. It prefers hot and humid climates.
Pollination:
Bittergourd is pollinated by insects. Growers of bittergourd can use hand pollination.
Height:
Bittergourd is usually grown on trellis. Vines can reach a length of 10 meters.
Spacing:
?
Propagation:
Bitter gourd is propagated through direct seeding and transplanting.
Insect pests:
Several insects attack bittergourd, including fruit flies.
Diseases:
Viruses, mildew.
Harvesting:
Bittergourd is usually harvested by hand picking of the fruits when they are still green.
Uses:
Bittergourd is eaten as a vegetable, for example in stir-fries, in soups, cooked in coconut milk, or steamed.
Bittergourd is also used in Asian traditional medicine. It stimulates digestion.
Proverbs and Quotes
- Of a bitter gourd use not even the seed. (= a warning against children of bad people)
Crop categories
Vegetables
Fruit vegetables
Food crops
Tropical crops
Pictures
Bitter gourd
Bitter gourd
Bitter gourd