Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia)

Staking and Trellising

  • Bitter gourd vines grow rapidly within two weeks after planting and send out lateral stems.
  • Staking and trellising improve fruit yield, size, reduce fruit rot, and ease spraying/harvesting.
  • Pandals (common in Kerala):
    • Erected at 1.5 m height using bamboo poles, wooden stakes, GI pipes, etc.
    • Coir or plastic ropes are tied in a crisscross manner to form a net for vine support.
  • Other trellising methods:
    • Lean-to type: A-frame structure formed between adjoining beds, with horizontal stakes for vine support.
    • Tunnel type: Arch-shaped structure made from PVC or GI pipes, allowing vines to climb freely. .

Pruning

  • Bitter gourd produces many unproductive side branches.
  • Remove lateral branches until the main runner reaches the top of the trellis.
  • Retain 4-6 lateral branches and cut the main runner tip for early cropping.
  • Removing lateral branches in the first 10 nodes improves yield.
  • To keep fruits straight, tie a pebble to the flower end with a string to prevent curling.

Irrigation

  • Bitter gourd is drought-sensitive; maintain good soil moisture in the top 50 cm.
  • Watering schedule:
    • 3-4 days interval in early growth stages.
    • Alternate days during flowering/fruiting.
  • Irrigation methods:
    • Furrow irrigation: is ideal.
    • Drip irrigation: improves water use efficiency in high-tech farming.
  • Rainy season: Drainage is essential for plant survival.
  • Summer months: Irrigation at 15 mm CPE (approx. every 3 days for sandy loam soils) is more economical than watering every 2 days.

Hormone Application

  • Bitter gourd produces more male flowers than female (ratio 25:1).
  • Spraying flowering hormones at 6-8 true leaf stage increases female flowers and fruit count.
  • Gibberellic acid (GA3) @ 25-100 ppm: Increases female flowers by 50% and lasts up to 80 days.
  • Ethrel (ethylene-releasing compound): Ethrel (ethylene-releasing compound): Enhances femaleness in bitter gourd.

Pollination

  • Cross-pollinated crop, mainly pollinated by bees.
  • Poor pollination during wet seasons due to reduced bee activity.
  • Introducing beehives ensures proper pollination and reduces the need for hand pollination.

Weed Control

  • Weeding and soil raking at the time of fertilizer application.
  • Earthing up during the rainy season.
  • Mulching:
    • Commonly used in raised-bed cultivation.
    • Can be organic or plastic, laid before/after transplanting or after sowing.

After cultivation

  • Erect pandals when the plants start vining.
  • Earthing up is done during rainy season.