National Bitter Melon Council

Home and community gardeners have a wide variety of gardening methods that they use when growing Bitter Melon. Here are a couple of tips when growing your own:

• Give your seeds a head start by soaking them in water for 48 hours before planting
• If you start seeds outside or grow starts on your windowsill, make sure to wait until the weather is consistently warm before planting outside. If you plant in the ground or in a pot while nights are still cool (30-45 degrees), cover the seedling with a mini-greenhouse made out of a plastic soda bottle. Cut the bottom off, leave the top open for air, and stick it in the earth around the seedling. Water around the bottom and lightly through the top for best results.
• Bitter Melon can sprawl along the ground, but it also likes to climb. If you have the space, let it grow up a trellis. The fruits will grow straighter that way.
• Bitter Melon likes heat, sun, and lots of water. Whether planting in a pot or in the ground, make sure to give it enough of each!
• For suggestions from other Bitter Melon gardeners or to post your own, visit our discussion forum.

If you are growing Bitter Melon this year in your home or community garden, please mark it on our interactive map and share your growing experiences on our discussion forum which is coming soon! You can also mark your growing location on our interactive map which is also coming soon.