How Do You Grow Bitter Melon?

Choose the Right Site for Your Bitter Melon Garden

One of the most important things you can do for your bitter melon is to choose the right site for your garden. This is true for more than just growing bitter melon. It's true for everything you plant! It's also important to choose the right site for your vegetable garden. You don't need to be an expert in gardening to know this, but it's true nonetheless. If you're not sure where to plant your melon, try to plant in a location that gets at least some sun. It will help to plant in locations that get full sun during the day, but not so much during the night that your melon can't grow. Also, if possible, try to plant your melon in soil that is not too rich in sand or other materials that will get in the way of your plants' growth.

Plant Bitter Melons Early So They Can Out Grow Their Spines

One of the most effective ways to combat the spines on bitter melons is to plant them early in the spring. You can expect to see most of them growing by early May if you start planting in early March. You can start planting in early March at the latest to get your melons finished in time for summer. If you want to get creative with your planting, you can plant your bitter melons in a monoculture of tomatoes, cucumbers, and other vegetables that get regular water and fertilization. Once you have a good idea of where your melons are going to grow, plant them there! If you plant in late March or early April, your melons will be big enough to handle the hot summer weather and will be ready for harvest in about two weeks. Before you pick them, though, you should examine the plants thoroughly to make sure they're healthy and none of the spines have popped out. If any of them have, dig them up, strip off the leaves and spines and put them in a plastic bag or the like, and store them in the refrigerator.

Mulch or keep the soil damp to control weeds

When you plant in soil, you're actually creating a Situation Normal. The soil is going to be very moist and stay that way for a long time, which means you will have a lot of weeds. In fact, if the soil is not kept damp, weeds will be able to grow as tall as your melon plants! Keeping the soil where it's supposed to be, though, is a little easier with mulch. You can tie sticks, leaves, and other things around the plant to provide a barrier against water loss and weed growth. You can also place a cloth over the top of the plant so that only the top part is exposed to the air. If you want to get really creative, you can place polythene (or other plastic) bags over the styrofoam boxes you grew your melons in and your produce will be able to grow undisturbed!

Provide support with stakes, cables, or ropes

This is probably the most important thing you can do for your bitter melon. You need to put some support in place so that your plant doesn't just sit there and take it. If you grow pomegranates, for example, you need to put some support in place so that the pomegranate doesn't fall over and crack from the weight of the fruits. You can use things such as twine, plastic bags, wooden stakes, or even your own body to provide this support.

Provide enough light for your plant to grow happily

Another thing you need to make sure your plant has is light. You need to provide the plant with the nutrients it needs in order for it to grow and produce. You can check out our article on growing tomatoes under different light conditions for more ideas on how to grow tomatoes.

Add a little moisture when the nights are dry and the mornings are hot

Another thing you need to make sure your plant has is moisture. When the nights are dry and the mornings are hot, the chances of your plant reaching maturity are reduced. You should take this as a sign to water your plant Please. It will be happy and productive if you provide it with water during these times.

Provide good drainage so that your plants can get all the water they need

When it comes down to it, your plant's health and productivity are tied to how well you are managing the water in your garden. While it's true that some plants prefer soil with little or no drainage, most can handle being kept partially in water — and in fact, they prefer it! Leafy plants, for example, prefer to be kept in water to flower, fruit and seed. Woody plants such as trees, vines and cacti also need water to sprout new leaves and new shoots and to complete the necessary processes of photosynthesis. If you keep your plants in water, they will be able to produce a greater volume of healthy, delicious vegetables.

Rototill often to help keep your plants in top condition

As if growing bitter melon wasn't hard enough, imagine trying to grow it in a pots. Growing a melon in a pots is very similar to growing it in the ground, but you need to be very careful. If you leave the soil in the pots too long, the roots will become too dry and the plants will not be able to properly nourish themselves and will begin to decline. You should also watch out for pests and diseases that may be introduced to your garden from your pots. It's best to simply pull the plants up out of the pots when you see signs of problems and keep them well hydrated and evenly fertilized.

Conclusion

Bitter melon is a popular summer vegetable with a reputation for being difficult to grow. It's an annual, which means it needs sunlight in order to grow. In fact, it doesn't do well in shady conditions, so try growing bitter melon where there is plenty of natural light. The plant has very strong spines and can be rough to the touch if you aren't careful. Since it's so thorny and prickly, you should also make sure that your garden border has enough space around the melon plants so that they don't get crowded down by their neighbors (also known as "carnivorous plants").