When Srila Prabhupada first visited New Talavan he asked for bittermelon. The devotees then didn’t know what that was but now it is grown prolifically every year.
The plants pictured here came from mature seeds in melons bought from an Indian grocer in Los Angeles. The plantings were so successful and again this year. And again seeds are being set aside for next year.
Krishna kindly arranged that if we are careful to save seeds, we don’t have to spend time and money getting more for future plantings.
Note the red casing when the bittermelon seed is most mature. This is a good indication for viable seeds. When dry the casing easily comes off and the seeds stored. But an even faster and easier method how to remove the red casing is to rub the seeds with a sponge inside a colander.
Bittermelon is a sun lover, so it flourishes in the hottest time of year. It is a vining plant that is easier to deal with if trained to climb a trellis or fencing. In some cases they can wind around tall plants such as okra or corn without difficulty, provided the host plants are well established.