Bitter Gourd

Step-by-step method

1. 1
   Step 1

   Soak

   The coat is very hard — soak 12–24 hours. You can lightly rub the seed tip first.

2. 2
   Step 2

   Mounds

   Mounds 3 ft apart with manure and ash.

3. 3
   Step 3

   Sow

   2 seeds per mound, 1 inch deep.

4. 4
   Step 4

   Trellis

   Add a 5 ft trellis once seedlings reach 6 inches — yields suffer without one.

5. 5
   Step 5

   Pests

   Wrap young fruit in paper or cloth against fruit flies; neem oil spray helps.

6. 6
   Step 6

   Harvest

   Pick green with crisp ridges; yellow fruit splits.

🌱 General care: weed around the base once plants grow and water whenever the soil starts to dry.