This video shows great visuals in manageable steps. Thank you so much for the great information. I feel much more confident in trying to grow bitter melons in my small backyard.
Now I now what I planted. A couple weeks ago my wife gave me 4 seeds and told me to plant them. Within a week they sprouted through the soil and now they're almost a foot tall. They're growing great where I live in Thailand because it has been 90º - 104º everyday recently.
I love your extensive list of bitter melon names. If I may add to the list: amorgoso (Philippines), cerasee (Jamaica), catapanza (Nicaragua), pangculi (Patois/Jamaica), corilla (Guyana), carillie (Trinidad, Tobago), cundeamor (Puerto Rico), korola (Bangladesh), calaica (Honduras), kpakley (Akposso/Togo), African cucumber (widely known as).
Thanks for the additional names. I have added it to the list. This may be an ancient plant with popular following for a long time, why else would this plant spread across the world in all continents and have so many names.. Thanks again !!
You may be right about BM being an ancient plant. The person (who told me about the name "kpakley" from the Akposso tribe in Togo) described a voodoo festival. I researched a bit about this tribe and found photos of men wearing around their necks, leis made from the vines and leaves of BM. What little I know about voodoo, they worship deities and spirits. It looks like BM spirit is a big deal and is acknowledged in this festival. Each time I collect more info about BM, I find out that it is a strong medicine. Well, it's mid-October now in zone 9b and some BM leaves are turning yellow. I plan on harvesting the leaves (all the fruit will be gone soon), either to pickle them or dry -- and not to forget, the roots. @@PhillySpecial
TIP ON GERMINATING OLDER SEEDS: The method in this vid is for FRESHLY HARVESTED SEEDS. The viability of bitter gourd seeds diminishes greatly over time ... i'd guestimate a falloff of atleast 50%/yr. My go to hack to speed germination for bitter gourd is to use a pair of needlenose pliers to snap off the tip of the hard protective, so that it can begin hydrating immediately (saving 1-2 days). If the seeds are even older (say, 2 years) my fall back trick is to replace the soaking water with a 1% solution of Hydrogen Peroxide (normal first aid strength is 3%, so to get 1% solution just mix 1 part of the default strength with 2 parts by vol of water). The peroxide helps jumpstart the germination related enzymes.
QUESTION: Can anyone corroborate my guess that bitter goard seeds do not become viable unless & until the fruit they reside within becomes fully overripe & ruptures (soft & orange inside & starting to liquify/ferment).
@@RovingPunster I always assumed that this is the natural way/process. The seed needs its time to fully develop and gets all the features/essentials to be able to protect itself and successfully germinate when its time comes. I have always waited for the bitter gourd to be fully ripened or even naturally dry up before getting the seeds.
I haven't heard of anybody doing this yet (and I've watched a lot of videos)... I remove the outer shell completely. I crack them between my teeth (obviously a commercial farmer wouldn't do this method). Out comes a white inner seed. I place them on top of moistened paper towels (2 layers) on a tray. Place inside a plastic bag (make a dome). No heating mat necessary, just place it on top of the refrigerator. Germinates fast bc it doesn't have to deal with a hard outer shell. The only thing to be careful about is not to wet the paper towels so much that the seeds rot. Been doing this method for 6 yrs.
Hi, When is the good time to put the Tindora and Bitter gourd plants outside? I live in Zone 8 (the night temp will be in mid 30s next week) . Surprisingly, the Tindora stem cutting that is inside the house started growing well and reaching a certain height. I'm a beginner, so very much confused.
Tindora and Bitter gourd plants are tropical plants so they will die if the temperature is below 40°F. Look for the "last frost date" in your area. Typically for Zone 8 it is end of March. Once the minimum temperature in your area is above 45-50°F you can bring your plants outside.
There are multiple reasons for yellow leaves. Please check this detailed article, this will give you some hints. grow.ifa.coop/gardening/8-reasons-plant-leaves-turn-yellow
@@PhillySpecial I know it’s not over watering because I’m very cautious about that but the fertilizing is a good call. It’s my first time growing anything from seed so I’m not knowledgeable. What fertilizer would you suggest and how to apply it? thank u
@@mizzvie The seed normally has enough nutrients for the first set of leaves. It should be fine once the plant gets the correct sunlight, correct temperature & is ready to grow. I would suggest hold on to a week or so & see how it does.
No need to water every day. Just check daily if cloth is dry and spray little water if needed. Also make sure there is not too much water else the seeds will get rotten.
Please don’t have too much moisture in the cloth. If its the correct temperature and correct moisture level the seeds will sprout in 3-4 days. We are just trying to simulate this seeds natural growing conditions.
