Momordica charantia 7 PCS fresh seeds, Karela

🌱 Momordica charantia — Bitter Cucumber, Chinese Bitter Gourd, Karela

Momordica charantia is a pack of 7 fresh seeds of an annual herbaceous vine, belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. Key selling points include its unique bitter taste, medicinal properties, and high nutritional value.

🌿 Botanical Description

Momordica charantia grows up to 4 m in length, with pentagonal stems featuring longitudinal grooves and simple tendrils. The leaves are alternately arranged, having a flattened kidney-shaped or rounded shape with 5-9 lobes and a heart-shaped base. The flowers are unisexual, with yellow petals in the amount of 5, located one by one in the leaf axils. The fruits are initially green, turning bright yellow or orange upon ripening, with a rough surface featuring wrinkles and warts. They can be cylindrical, spindle-shaped, or oval, measuring 3-15(40) × 2-5(8) cm. The flesh of unripe fruits is pale green, dense, and juicy, with a very bitter taste.

🌾 Growing & Agrotechnics

• Sow seeds 1-2 cm deep, 7-10 days after the last frost, in well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
• Germination temperature: 25-30°C, germination time: 7-14 days.
• Soil type: fertile, well-draining soil rich in organic matter.
• Watering and fertilization: keep the soil consistently moist, fertilize regularly.
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 10-12, frost tolerance: sensitive.

🗺️ Natural Growing Areas

Momordica charantia is native to tropical Asia, found in the wild in tropical and subtropical regions, typically in humid, warm climates, at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1,500 m.

✨ Interesting Facts

Momordica charantia has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, particularly in the treatment of diabetes. It contains polypeptides similar to insulin, which stimulates the production of insulin, making it a valuable assistant in diabetes management. The plant is also a good source of various minerals and vitamins, including carbohydrates and proteins.