Momordica charantia
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Common Name: Bitter Cucumber, Bitter Gourd

This fruit is shaped like a cucumber but is pale green in colour and has a lumpy, warty surface. It grows to around 20-25 cm (8-10 in) long. Bitter melon is an integral part of the diet of several Asian countries. In India and Sri Lanka, it is a popular addition to curries. The fruit is eaten when very young and extremely bitter, though the pulp becomes sweet on ripening. The juice has some medicinal value. This slender, annual climber is mostly grown on a trellis to keep the fruits off the ground. It grows 3-4 m (10-13 ft) high.

Cultivation

Bitter melon needs very warm conditions. Grow in well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Given regular water and fertilizer, it grows vigorously. Seed should be sown in spring once the soil has warmed.

Climate

Grow as a summer annual.