Black Pearl Bitter Melon is a beautiful
gem of a plant with deep, dark green onyx skin in an intricate pattern
of textures and ridges. Black Pearl Bitter Melon grows bright to dark
green 9-10-inch gourds that pale to yellow-orange hue as they ripen.
Bitter melon is a tropical vine that is widely grown in Asia, Africa,
and the Caribbean. It has a distinctly bitter flavor that is delicious
for stir-frying, sautéing, stuffing, pickling, or even juicing. Bitter
melon is prized as a cultural super food and has shown to be one of the
healthiest vegetables in the food kingdom.
Also Known As: Dark Green Bitter
Gourd, Bitter Squash, Indian Bitter Melon, Bitter Cucumber, Balsam
Pear, Kyushu, Karela, Goya, Paval, Ampalaya, Karavila, Fu Qua, Fukwa,
Peria.
We ship in 1 business day. Shipped with USPS First Class Mail.
Plant Name:
|
Bitter Melon, Black Pearl F1 |
Latin Name:
|
Momordica charantia
|
Days to Germinate: |
7-14 |
Days to Harvest: |
60
|
Germination Rate: |
96% |
Test Date: |
4/23 |
Growth Habit: |
Vining |
USDA Zones: |
3-11
|
Lifespan: |
Annual, Perennial 9-11 |
Country of Origin: |
United States |
Sunlight: |
Full Sun, Partial Shade |
GMO: |
No |
Pollination:
|
Hybrid
|
Fungicide-Treated Seeds:*: |
No |
Seeds Packed For**: |
2024 |
*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds
are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are
still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as
the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.
Planting Instructions:
Soil Preparation:
To prepare soil, remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting
area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when
turned under. Spade the soil 8-12 inches deep and turn each shovel of
soil over completely to cover the plant materials with soil. You may add
fertilizer (see "Fertilizing" below) or 2-3 inches of organic material
such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay over the planting area at this
point. Till to mix this organic material into the top 8-10 inches of
soil. Make rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 3 feet apart.
This formation of ridges will help with drainage.
Planting:
Plant in the spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is
at least 70F. To plant, make 1 inch deep holes spaced 4 feet apart in
raised beds down the rows, then plant 1-2 seeds in each hole. Cover
thinly with soil and water after planting. After the seeds come up and
plants are 3-4 inches tall, thin to 3 plants per hill. Bitter Melon prefers humid climates and can grow up to 16 feet long vines. Trellising is recommended.
Planting Depth: |
1 inch |
Within-Row Spacing:
|
4 feet |
Between-Row Spacing:
|
3 feet, trellis
|
Watering:
Water the plants enough to keep them from wilting. If the weather is
really dry, squash plants should be watered at least once a week. Sandy
soils need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils.
Weeding:
Keep plants as weed-free as possible. When plowing or hoeing try not to
dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder rooters which
may slow the plant's growth.
Fertilizing:
You may optionally add scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for
each 100 square feet of garden area. Work into the soil and leave the
surface smooth. For small gardens, use 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer for
each hill. Scatter the fertilizer evenly over a 2 foot by 2 foot area.
work it into the top 2-3 inches of soil. When blooms first appear, you
may optionally apply 2 tablespoons of fertilizer around each hill. Do
not let fertilizer touch the plants. Water the plants after fertilizing.
Insecticides:
Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and
sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also
has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Larvae
of the Squash vine borer are usually found inside the stem and cannot
be controlled once they are inside the stem. Sevin® and Thiodan® can
control for squash bugs. Pyrethrin and rotenone can control for the
cucumber beetle. Before using a pesticide, read the label and always
follow cautions, warnings and directions.
Diseases:
Check the plants daily and if spots or mold appear, treat the plant
with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may
be used. Please always follow label directions.
Bitter
melon requires close attention at harvest time as they can ripen
quickly. Harvest Black Pearl Bitter melon when they are young but fully
grown, the skin is dark, deep green in color, shiny, and tender, and the
seeds are still soft and white. Ripening can continue after harvest.
Old vines can be composted or worked in the soil well before the Spring
planting season.
Bitter Melon, pods, boiled Amount Per 1 cup (1/2" pieces) (124 g)
|
Calories 23
|
% Daily Value*
|
Total Fat 0.2 g
|
0% |
Saturated fat 0 g
|
0% |
Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g
|
|
Monounsaturated fat 0 g
|
|
Cholesterol 0 mg
|
0% |
Sodium 7 mg
|
0% |
Potassium 396 mg
|
11% |
Total Carbohydrate 5 g
|
1% |
Dietary fiber 2.5 g
|
10% |
Sugar 2.4 g
|
|
Protein 1 g
|
2% |
Vitamin A |
2% |
Vitamin C |
68% |
Calcium |
1% |
Iron |
2% |
Vitamin D |
0% |
Vitamin B-6 |
5% |
Cobalamin |
0% |
Magnesium |
5% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie
needs. |
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