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Momordica charantia
GOURD-BITTER MELON-JAPANESE is a variety that produces long fruits, 15-20cm long with dark green skin. Strong bitter taste ideal for soups, stews, stir-fry & curries. Bitter gourds require a long hot humid summer with ample water. A delicate climbing vine, ensure a sturdy support is available to grow on as this will promote better cropping. Seeds must be kept warm at all times to germinate, ideally between 25 – 30C. Will fail if exposed to cold wet conditions. This bitter melon is very popular in Japan & has a very tasty flavour. Fruits should be harvested for vegetable uses while young & green
Plant 2.5cm deep, 30 cm apart. Early plants can be sown in seedling pots for later transplanting. Prepare well-drained soil with compost & well-rotted manure. Young leaves & shoots are edible. This plant thrives in heat & humidity, & as summer temperatures rise, vines grow quit fast.
These seeds are very expensive so if anyone is interested in growing and saving seeds for me please get in touch.
While Japanese bitter melon and Bitter melon long are different varieties of bitter melon, they both belong to the same species, Momordica charantia. Therefore, they share a similar heritage as bitter melon in general. They likely have a common origin in the Indian subcontinent and have been cultivated and adapted in different regions over time.
However, due to regional preferences, cultivation practices, and natural selection, different local varieties and cultivars have emerged, each with its own unique characteristics. Japanese bitter melon and Bitter melon long are examples of such distinct cultivars that have been developed and maintained in specific regions.
So, while they have a shared heritage as bitter melon, these specific cultivars may have slight variations in their flavor, appearance, and growth habits. The names and preferences associated with these varieties are often influenced by the regions where they are commonly grown or consumed, reflecting their specific cultural significance and culinary traditions.
SHOP Garden Supplements
Category Colour Guide
Planting Guide for Australia
Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Plant Height (cm)
200 - 365
Season of Interest
Summer
Temperature Range (°C)
20 - 30
Determine / Indeterminate
Annual / Perennial / Biennial
Annual
Frost Hardy / Tender
Tender
Full Sun / Part Sun / Shade
Full Sun
Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings
Raise Seedlings
Soil
Well-drained soil with compost & well-rotted manure.
pH
6 - 6.8
Soil Temperature (°C)
20 - 30
Seed Preparation
Soak seeds overnight in warm water. Cut ott tip of pointy end
Sowing Depth (mm)
1
Plant Spacing (cm)
30 - 45
Row spacing (cm)
90 - 120
Watering
Regular Watering
Germination Time (Days)
7 - 14
Harvest Time (Days)
60 - 90
Good Companion Plants
Bush beans. Cucumber, Peas, Tomatoes, Okra, Eggplant, Radish, Carrots, Basil, Mint
Bad Companion Plants
Potatoes, Sweet potatoes, Squash, Pumpkins, Melons,
Pests
Aphids, Whiteflies, Spider Mites, Fruit Flies, Cucumber Beetles, Thrip, Fruit Borers, Leafhopper
Diseases
Bacterial wilt, Powdery mildew, Downy mildew, Anthracnose, Fusarium wilt
ABSeeds is an Australian owned business trading under the umbrella of Direct Compost Solutions which is owned and managed by Victoria Brun.
We as a company endeavor to provide to the public, Organic, Old Fashioned, Heritage, and Open-pollinated seeds that have not been genetically modified.
We purchased the business in November 2018 and renamed it to ABSeeds (All ‘Bout Seeds) to make the title shorter and represent what we hope to achieve with this business in the years ahead.
Seeds that we can’t grow ourselves we will acquire from people who grow for us, or we may purchase seeds from reputable heritage seed companies.
ABSeeds is an Australian owned business trading under the umbrella of Direct Compost Solutions which is owned and managed by Victoria Brun.
