Which month is the best for sowing bitter melon?

Bitter melon, loved by many people for its unique bitterness and refreshing taste, prefers a warm and humid environment. When planting bitter melon, when the temperature is stably maintained above 20℃, the bitter melon seeds can germinate well and the plants can grow smoothly. Let’s learn together which month is the best for sowing bitter melon?

Which month is the best for sowing bitter melon?

The best temperature for germination of bitter melon seeds is between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius, which helps the seeds germinate quickly and evenly. Bitter melon seedlings prefer a slightly cooler environment, around 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, which helps promote healthy growth. During the flowering and fruiting stages, bitter melon also requires a mild temperature, about 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, to ensure the normal opening of the flowers and the good development of the fruits.

If the ambient temperature is outside of these recommended ranges, either too high or too low, it may adversely affect the growth cycle of bitter melon. Unsuitable temperatures during the germination and emergence stages may result in uneven emergence. During the seedling growth period, it may lead to poor growth conditions; during the flowering and fruiting periods, it may affect the quality and yield of the fruit. Therefore, maintaining the right temperature is crucial for successful bitter melon cultivation.

In northern regions, the best time to sow bitter melon is usually from late March to early April, and seedlings can be grown in greenhouses or sheds . In early May, when the weather warms up, the seedlings can be transplanted outdoors for planting. Growers in the Yangtze River Basin may start slightly earlier, starting sowing in mid-March and transplanting in mid-April.

In South China, bitter melon for spring planting can be sown between January and March, those for summer planting can be sown from April to May, and those for autumn planting can be sown from July to August. Generally speaking, the sowing time of bitter melon is concentrated in March. Some growers choose to raise seedlings in a greenhouse or shed before transplanting, which allows them to sow seeds as early as February to start the growing cycle earlier.

Things to note when planting bitter melon

Bitter melon is a light-sensitive vegetable that prefers full sunlight and shorter daylight hours. During the critical period of flowering and fruiting, sufficient sunlight is the key to improving fruit set rate and fruit quality. If there is insufficient light, bitter melon may have problems such as slow growth, sparse flowers, poor fruit development, poor taste, and it may also easily cause the flowers and fruits to fall prematurely. In order to ensure the normal growth of bitter melon, at least 12 hours of light per day is required.

Bitter melon has high requirements for water and fertilizer . It prefers a humid environment and is not tolerant to drought or waterlogging. The most suitable humidity is 70% to 80%. The ideal soil type is a light sandy soil with good drainage. Because bitter melon produces large amounts of fruit, it requires relatively more nutrients. Fertile soil and sufficient nutrients are the basis for ensuring the healthy growth of bitter melon and the production of many flowers and fruits. However, it should be noted that excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer may cause excessive plant growth and reduce yield. If there is a lack of water and fertilizer during the growth process, especially during the flowering and fruiting period, the growth and yield of bitter melon will be seriously affected.

Different varieties of bitter melon differ in their growth habits and abilities. Bitter melon can be divided into large fruit type and small fruit type according to the size of the fruit, into white skin, green-white skin, green skin and dark green skin according to the color of the skin, and into oblong, short conical and oblong conical according to the shape of the fruit. When choosing bitter melon varieties to plant, you should make flexible decisions based on local climate and market demand. Generally speaking, bitter melons with darker colors are more bitter, while those with lighter colors are less bitter.

For example, the big-top bitter melon variety is resistant to high temperatures and fertilizers, but not to waterlogging; the summer bitter melon variety matures early and grows vigorously, with good heat tolerance and disease resistance; the evergreen bitter melon variety grows vigorously and has strong disease resistance; the long-bodied bitter melon variety grows strongly and is resistant to storage and transportation; the smooth-bodied bitter melon variety has strong adaptability to the environment and good heat resistance.

The above is an introduction to the sowing time and planting points of bitter melon. When planting bitter melon, you must pay attention to the temperature conditions. Do not sow at an inappropriate time, otherwise the yield and quality will definitely be compromised.