Bitter melon
3Will it grow where I live?
Bitter melon is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.
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Profile
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Habit
- annual
- Height
- 4 m
- Spread
- 3.5 m
- Growth
- medium
- Lifespan
- 1 year
- First yield
- after 1 year
- Hardiness
- zone 9–11
- Shade tolerance
- full sun
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
- Soil moisture
- semi-dry – very moist
- pH
- 5.5 – 7
Uses
Frequently asked questions
Bitter melon: how big does it get?
Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) grows as a annual and reaches roughly 4 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3.5 m. Growth is medium.
Bitter melon: what site does it need?
Bitter melon tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.
Bitter melon: is it hardy?
Bitter melon is listed as hardy in zone 9–11 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Bitter melon: will it grow in Central Europe?
Bitter melon is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.
Bitter melon: is it poisonous?
No toxicity is recorded for Bitter melon. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.
Bitter melon: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Medicinal 3/10.
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