Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia)
- Bitter gourd requires close attention at harvest time and fruits must be harvested frequently. Normally, it takes 15-20 days after fruit set or 90 days from planting for fruit to reach marketable age, however, fruits can be harvested at earlier stages depending on the purpose for which it will be used.
- Ideally, at harvest fruits should be light green, thick and juicy, and the seeds should be soft and white.
- Harvest every 2-3 days using a pair of scissors or a sharp knife to cut the fruit stalk.
- Yield varies depending on variety and management. Average marketable yields are 15-20 t/ha, and some hybrids yield up to 40 t/ha.
- The harvested fruits do not keep long and should be sold in the market immediately. Remove damaged and deformed fruits.
- Carefully arrange fruits in bamboo baskets or boxes and store in a cool place at 12-13°C with 85-90 % relative humidity. Under this condition, fruit storage life can be extended 2-3 weeks. Bitter gourd is chilling sensitive and damage may occur if kept below 10°C.
- Do not store fruits at temperatures above 13°C, as this will result in fruits turning yellow and splitting open.
- Keep harvested fruits away from other fruits (such as banana, pineapple and apple) that release large amounts of ethylene, a ripening hormone.
