Bitter Melon Seeds
Useful gardening
infomation
A mainstay of local oriental produce markets,
especially during the warm summer months, bitter melon is a
common vegetable consumed by millions around the world -- not
only in the Far East, but also in many Central and South
American and Caribbean countries. In the western hemisphere, it
seems to be better known as an annual ornamental vine than as a
food, with lovely, deeply cut leaves and bearing pretty fruits
called balsam pears that ripen to a dramatic orangy red.
Its bitterness comes from the high concentration of quinine
it contains, which incidentally, is the reason why it is
regarded by Asians, as well as Panamanians and Colombians, as a
valuable drug for preventing and treating malaria.
The vast majority of Americans who have tried bitter melon
probably found the experience quite unpleasant, not something
they would ever want to repeat. But really, bitter melon is a
delicious vegetable -- when cooked right and when latent taste
buds on the tongue are given the chance to become acquainted
with the most misunderstood and maligned of the five primary
flavors. Moreover, it is immensely nutritious.
Rich in iron, bitter melon has twice the beta carotene of
broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, twice the potassium of
bananas, and contains vitamins C and B 1 to 3, phosphorus and
good dietary fiber. It is believed to be good for the liver and
has been proven by western scientists to contain insulin, act
as an anti-tumor agent, and inhibit HIV-1 infection.
Sowing
Instructions
Direct seed melons in hills 4 ft. apart each way after
soil temperature has reached at least 65 degrees. Plant 8-10
seeds per hill, later thin to 4 plants per hill. Cover with
3/4-1" of soil.
Informative articles found on the
web:
What
is Bitter Melon?
National Bitter Melon
Council
Medicinal
Properties of Bitter Melon
Bitter Melon Recipes
Bitter Melon Seeds
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1A119 Common Foo Gwa
(Momordica charantia) Tasty mild bitter fruit gives delicious
flavor to stir-fries and Oriental dishes. 5”-8"
white-green colored bumpy fruit turn a beautiful deep orange.
When overripe they pop open. The seeds are covered in a good
amount of bright red jell, that tastes like cherry candy.
Ornamental vines give good yields. They thrive in hot weather
and are not bothered by insects or wilt. Aka Balsam pear, it
has been used medicinally for hundreds of years. Can be hard to
germinate.
5 seeds $1.95
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W211 Small Baby
(Momordica charantia) This is a unique bitter melon, very popular in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Small fruits in size of 40-60 grams are ideal choice for stuffed food and gourmet cuisine uses. Plants grow vigorously in warm climates and are very productive.
5 seeds $2.95
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W223 White Pearl Hybrid
(Momordica charantia) This hybrid variety grows beautiful white bitter melons that are
very marketable in the marketplace, attractive in your backyard and tasty on the dinner
table. Tender and high quality fruits with slightly bitter taste are very popular in Taiwan,
for stir-fry, salad, stuffing and soup. Fruits are 6-9 inches long and about 3 inches in
diameter. In Taiwan, fruits are often protected and covered using paper sleeves, by
closing the top end but keeping the bottom end open, to block the sunlight exposure and
to minimize skin scratch during the fruit growth, to obtain beautiful fruits.
5 seeds $3.95
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W224 Hong Kong Green
(Momordica charantia) This spindle-shaped fruit has dark green and relatively smooth
skin. Fruits are 8-10 inches long and about 1 Lb. in weight. This variety is very popular in
Hong Kong and widely grown in Canton, China and Southeastern Asia.
5 seeds $3.95
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W225 India Baby Hybrid
(Momordica charantia) This hybird is developed recently by a leading seed company in India. This small size bitter melon, ( about 3 inches x 1.25 inches long ) and just over an ounce in weight, is very popular for making stuffed cuisines. This vine plant is strong tolerant to heat and rain, suitable for growing in tropical climates. Plants grow vigorously and first fruit pick can be obtained 50 dyas after sowing. Dark green fruits are very delicious.
5 seeds $3.95
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JF139 Large Top
(Momordica charantia) This Bitter Melon is very popular in southern China. Fruits are in top shaped with large square shoulder. Dark green skin Bitter Melon can grow to reach 400-450 grams in size. The plant grows vigorously in warm climates and is resistant to rain, suitable for growing in tropical regions.
5 seeds $3.95
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JF195 Baby Doll
(Momordica charantia) This is a new hybrid variety of small baby bitter melon
developed by a leading seed breeder in Thailand. Dark green fruits are only 30 grams in
weight, ideal size for stuffed gourmet food. Plants grow vigorously and begin to produce
fruits, 45 days after transplanting, and continue to bear lots of fruits for a long time. Easy
to grow, excellent variety for home gardening and fresh markets.
5 seeds $3.95
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Wax Gourd Seeds
Sowing
Instructions
Direct seed melons in hills 4 ft. apart each way after
soil temperature has reached at least 65 degrees. Plant 8-10
seeds per hill, later thin to 4 plants per hill. Cover with
3/4-1" of soil.
Wax Gourd, also called White Gourd, is a fast-growing, long-season, warm-climate vegetable. The plant produces fruits on vines, like the pumpkin on ground, which can grow up to 50 pounds. Fruits can be stored in a cool place for months and used later in the winter season. Thus this gourd is called Tong Qwa, meaning "Winter Melon" in Chinese. The unopened fruits can be kept fresh for a long time, but the flesh shall be used in cooking within a few days once the fruit is cut into pieces.
Note: Wax Gourd needs insects/honey bees to carry out the pollinating process for setting fruits. If the insects are not available in your area, the pollinating process can be done manually, by picking up male flowers and transferring pollens from male flower to femal flowers (by face-to-face touching the center part of flowers). This process should be carried out when flowering is active during the daytime.
Informative articles found on the
web:
Tips on Growing Wax Gourd
Recipe: Wax Gourd Stir Fry
Recipe: Wax Gourd Corn Sparerib Soup
Recipe: Suffed Wax Gourd
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W222 Wonder Wax
(Benincasa hispida) Wonder Wax is a high yielding hybrid variety. Plants are very
vigorous in warm climates, producing large fruits in 110 days after sowing. Fruits are
oblong in sahpe, 5-6 Kg in weight and greenish white in skin with waxy coating at
mautrity. Pure white flesh is very tender and delicious.
5 seeds $2.95
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JF143 Oblon Tong Qwa
(Benincasa hispida) This variety produces giant fruits, that can be up to 16-24" long and 12-16" across. This large size Winter Melon is very popular in Taiwan and subtropical Asia.
5 seeds $2.95
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3439 Long Giant
(Benincasa hispida) This variety produces large size Winter Melons, up to 30 pounds. Large fruit has green skin without wax and pure white flesh inside for vegetable uses. This is one of the most popular Winter Melon varieties in southern China and subtropical Asia.
5 seeds $2.95
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JF146 Small Round Hybrid
(Benincasa hispida) This hybrid variety produces small size fruits, 4-7" in diameter - a size suitable for family cooking uses. Plants are vigorous in warm climates and produce many fruits per vine. White flesh is very delicious, excellent for stir-fry and winter melon soup.
5 seeds $2.95
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3440 Large Round Tong Qwa Hybrid
(Benincasa hispida) This variety produces large size Wax Gourds, 15-20 pounds, that are very popular in Japan. Very productive and easy to grow. Seeds are in thin/flat shape and relatively light in weight.
5 seeds $2.95
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JF148 Thai Small Hybrid
(Benincasa hispida) This is a new small size hybrid wax gourd developed by a leading seed company in Thailand. Fruits with light green skin and white flesh are uniform in shape and weight, 1.0-1.1 Kg. Plants grow rapidly in warm climates and first fruit can be harvested in 65 days after sowing. This high yield variety adapts well to various soil conditions.
5 seeds $2.95
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