Can bitter melon be planted all year round? When is the best time to plant it?

Bitter melon originally grew in South Asia and India, and was later widely cultivated in temperate regions around the world. It has a long history of cultivation in Japan and Southeast Asia. The production areas of Chinese bitter melon are spread all over the north and south, and common production areas include Hunan, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hebei, etc.

Bitter melon planting time

Bitter melon can be grown all year round . It has a wide adaptability to the environment. Generally, the temperatures in spring, summer and autumn are suitable for its growth. When the temperature is relatively low in winter, it can be maintained in a greenhouse or planted indoors. This way, the temperature can be controlled and will not affect the germination of the bitter melon.

Bitter melon is suitable for planting around Qingming Festival. Different regions, different planting methods, and sowing times will also be different. Usually the best planting time is around March to April in spring , and the temperature must be above 20 degrees Celsius to facilitate seed germination.

Bitter melon growth temperature

The starting temperature for bitter melon seed germination is 15℃. It cannot germinate below 10℃. The more suitable temperature for germination is as high as 30-35℃, but it can also germinate in 4-5 days at 25℃-28℃. The suitable temperature for growth in the seedling stage is 20℃-25℃, and the temperature of 25℃-30℃ is required during the flowering and fruiting period.

Bitter melon growth cycle

The growth process of bitter melon can be divided into four stages: germination, seedling, vine, flowering and fruiting. Generally, it is planted in spring, blooms in June and July, and bears fruit in September and October. The growth cycle is about 100-200 days.