Bittergourd Tiny Seeds

It’s a vine, the fruits are medium sized elongated oval in shape with soft prickles skin along the ridges. It’s bitter in taste. It aids in blood purification, maintaining blood sugar levels and it is packed with nutrients. Health benefits of bitter gourd more than compensate for its slightly bitter taste. It keeps blood sugar levels in check, fights cholesterol, cleanses the liver, and catalyzes weight loss. It is an excellent source of iron, fibre, Vitamins A & C and potassium which helps in improving digestion. Bitter gourds also contain a compound called quinine which gives them the well-known bitter taste. When cooked the right way, it tastes delicious. Gourds (Cucurbitaceae) are among the oldest cultivated plants. They were the early water bottles of the Egyptians (2200 or 2400 B.C.), and were traditionally used as utensils, storage containers, and dippers by indigenous peoples in North America. Most gourds are native to tropical or warm temperate climates. They require a long growing season to mature and are killed by frost.

Days to Germinate: 8-10 days

Days to Harvest: 55-60 Days

How to Grow: Gourd requires full sun and thrives well in a temperature range of 25 to 35 degrees celsius with well drained soil. Seeds can be directly sown in soil, it takes about 55 to 60 days to mature. Keep a distance of at least 12 to 15 inches between two plants. Keeping bitter gourd planting beds evenly moist is required for good fruit development. Gently water the soil during mornings or evenings when the soil feels dry on touch. Bitter gourds require nutrient-rich well-draining soil with a pH ranging between 5.5 to 6.5. Good soil drainage is essential for ideal growth of the plant.

Sowing Season: It is grown in kharif (June-August) and February – March season

Germination Rate: Seed Preservation: You too can be a seedkeeper and help HOOGA in the fight to preserve native seeds. To preserve gourd seeds, one must simply scoop them out of the fruit and later shade dry and store the seeds that come out. You can also make use of wood ash, cow dung or hay to aid in the process. Call us to know more!