Growing an Organic Bitter-Gourd

Introduction 

Name : Bitter-Gourd

Indian name : Karela

Other names : Bitter-Melon, Balsam Pear, Bitter-Squash

Bitter-gourd is a tropical climber vegetable.

Health Benefits

1. It is a common remedy for diabetes.

2. It is useful in cases of spleen and liver diseases.

3. It is supposed to purify blood.

For detailed information please refer to - Click Me

Bitter-Gourd of my Garden

For video of my garden's bitter-gourd and cucumber - Click Me

How To Grow

Planting Time : End of winter season (I planted it in March)

Note 1 : You have to grow bitter-gourd with the help of seeds because the saplings of bitter-gourd is quiet difficult to find. It is difficult to grow a sapling out of the seeds so here is a tip for you - 

• Soak the seeds for 24 hours in warm water.

OR

 Note 2 : If you want to disinfect the seeds then for 50 gm of seeds -

1. Take a utensil. 
2. Put 1 small cup (100 ml) warm water in it.
3. Put 50 gm seeds into it. Shake it. (Take out those seeds which did not sink and throw them out of the utensil.)
4. Put 5 gm vermi-compost into it. It provides minerals to the seeds.
5. Put 5 gm jaggery into it. It provides nourishment to the seeds.
6. Put 5 ml cow urine. It disinfects the seeds. You can get cow urine from ayurvedic medical stores.
7. Mix it well and keep it for 24 hours in shade.
8. Take it out and strain it through a muslin cloth and tie the seeds in it very carefully.
9. Keep it wrapped in a jute sack or hay for 48 hours. 
10. Now it is ready for planting. 

• I got this information from - Click Me

Tips :  Here are the steps to plant the bitter-gourd on the terrace/pot.

1. Prepare a bed for it; take a 10 kg empty wheat packet or a plastic sack.
2. Fill the sack / wheat packet with three parts of soil, one part of sand and one part of half/fully decayed kitchen waste.
3. Mix them well.
4. Take out the soaked seeds and sow them in the soil, not too much inside the soil.
5. Sow the seed just half inch deep from the top.
6. You can sow three seeds in one container, not more than that.
7. Pour little water on it.
8. After that never pour water on it till the saplings comes out.
9. If the plastic polythene bag is thick then make many holes at the bottom for the drainage of excess water.
10. If you are taking a plastic sack then there is no need to make holes in it.

 Note 3 : It is very important not to water a bitter gourd seed until the sapling comes out.

• Once the sapling comes out you can give some water daily, or on every alternate day.
• Make sure the water is not getting stored in the sack/plastic bag. It should be drained.
• Sapling will start coming within one week. It would come earlier if you have disinfected the seeds.
• It will start giving flowers after one and a half months. And then you can enjoy home-grown, organic bitter-gourd which is a boon for the diabetic people.