Bitter Gourd
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Bitter gourd could up to grow on 6-foot-long vines. the plant is native to tropical India and South-east Asia. The plant has simple tendrils and hairy stems bearing both male and female flowers. Fruits are longish having vertical ridges. When they are immature the fruits if green and turns white or yellow-orange when ripens. fruits increases with bitterness with maturity There is only one kind of this fruit and the common known as "Bitter Gourd" with the scientific name Momordica charantia. Bitterness taste from the fruit is contained in its soft pulp a compound called momordicosides. Then with development over the years. These days the fruits comes in a variety of clones called cultivars. Giving the fruits different shapes, colors, size and presence of skin tubercles. Most buyers are mystified by the variety and here are 2 tables to show the preferences in types sold in the different countries. |
Bitter Gourd Pix No. 1
Bitter Gourd Pix No. 2
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A brief run through on the few popular cultivars of Bitter Gourd 1. The White-fruited Cultivars This is commonly known as the "Taiwan White" It has white skin and flesh. Sometimes this hybrid is known as White Pearl . Fruiting starts from 55 days of sowing. 2 The Green-fruited Cultivars This species may not be known as much. This is the "Taiwan Large" with green skin and white flesh. Growing up to 12" long. Could bear fruit up to a pound each. the creeper has a square stem. 3. The Tubercled Cultivars "Indian Star" as it is known have fruits about 4-6 inches long. Have teeth and short spins. Flesh is white and thick. Fruit mostly green to dark green 4. The Long-fruited Cultivars This "Japanese Long" with fruits growing up to 12-13 inches. Skin is dark green and needs to be harvested when young. Plants suitable for sub-tropical climate 5. The Spindle-shaped Cultivars The fruit is shaped like a top or spindle. Fruit is round and with sharpened ends. Sometimes also known as "Hong Kong Green". The "Japanese Green Spindle" is a medium size fruit. |
Project White Bitter Gourd - 2015
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So, we were fascinated with this pearl white Gourd and as usual gardener Chuan gave to us the seeds to start our project. With a tiny corner just beside the sprawling Bauhinia twines. The Bitter Gourd creepers grew. Confined by that air space under the shades of the giant Matoa Trees. From this frame, the "Ice-cream" bougainvillea scrub on the left and bordered by the Loropetalum scrub on the right Bitter Gourd Pix No. 3
Didn't record the date when first planted. Now this picture showed a fully ripened golden yellow fruit. Look at that tight corner that wifey had squeezed herself into to check for fruits hidden among the foliages. Bitter Gourd Pix No. 4
The plant was highly productive. Was not difficult to weed out the pearl coloured fruits from the thick green foliages Bitter Gourd Pix No. 5
There! a full view of that tight corner and the over towering Matoa Tree in the back ground. On the next picture, 2 bushes of Loropetalum trees closing the access. Bitter Gourd Pix No. 6
Very proud to show her harvest - more than we can eat. Oh! not yet. Still harvesting and later picture will show the collection for that day itself. Bitter Gourd Pix No. 7
Now an overall view as to how the fruits were seen or "discovered" Bitter Gourd Pix No. 8
A prized picture of a golden Gourd. Of course,
mot gourd are eaten when they are young. The older the fruits are kept, the
more bitter they become. Bitter Gourd Pix No. 9
Another picture of her doing maintenance work in another day Bitter Gourd Pix No. 10
"Ma'cik" here sharing the joy with a display of the Day's harvest. Bitter Gourd Pix No. 11
Once more back at the dining table, proper view of the fruits Bitter Gourd Pix No. 12
That period of harvesting went on for a couple of weeks ending with diminishing number of fruits and the tail end. Project 2 - Green Bitter Gourd - 2021
Now after the first round of planting, this time around not so enthusiastic but maintaining a cursory look over the development of the plants
Bitter Gourd Pix No. 13
Still as usual the fruits were produced Bitter Gourd Pix No. 14
Unlike the last session, this time there was no specific spot allocated to the plant, no special care. the plants were allowed to seek its own space for survival. Bitter Gourd Pix No. 15
Quite a difference! No thick bushes but solitary fruit hanging here and there at random Bitter Gourd Pix No. 16
There nice looking fruit. It's green and not pearl white though the picture looks deceiving. Bitter Gourd Pix No. 18
So often many were even hidden within the Loropetalum bush that the creepers had sneaked into. Bitter Gourd Pix No. 19
More pictures that we collected from time to time. Bitter Gourd Pix No. 20
Just as with all our planting exercises, the focus was not to get extraordinary looking scenes or fruits. We merely was quite happy in reaping our harvest. That's the real reward. So in preparing this page, the input are rather mundane. Bitter Gourd Pix No. 21
Bitter Gourd Pix No. 22
At times when the mood was right, we even tried protecting the fruits. Touch Wood! so far no insect attacks seen Bitter Gourd Pix No. 23
Bitter Gourd Pix No. 24
Had not kept any record this time. For a good period of weeks or even months, we had a continuous supply of one to two fruits. That was more then enough for both our consumption. Thanks goodness we had not grown tried of its taste. As I prepare this write-out season is still on but with signs of diminishing supply |
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