Best Tips For Growing Vegetables At Home - Part 6 ( Bitter gourd / Bitter Melon )

Bitter gourd / Bitter Melon is a fast growing warm seasonal climbing annual, native to South Asia. It is known as 'Karela' in Hindi. It tastes bitter due to a compound known as quinine and  this is only reason that it is used as a treatment of malaria. Apart from that bitter gourd has many other medicinal properties like high calcium, potassium and phosphorous and fiber content. Vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C are also found in it.

Propagation

Seeds are best way to start bitter gourd plants. Soak seeds in water for at least 24 hrs before sowing for best results. 2 or 3 seeds can be sown together ½ inch deep in soil. Seeds will germinate in 2-3 days. The germinated seeds can be replanted on raised beds 18-24 inches apart.

If you are using transplanting method then do take care while rooting out seedlings to avoid disturbance to root system.

Soil

Bitter gourd grows well in a sandy loam soil. Use well drained soil, pH ranging from 5.5 – 6.7 enriched with organic matter like compost, dried manure. 

Sun / Temperature

This plant thrives in heat and humidity. As temperature rises, it grows quickly. Minimum 6 hrs of sun light is required. Extreme low temperature can hamper growth.

Watering

Regular watering is essential for good growth of the plant but do not overwater the plants.

Fertilizer

If you worked compost into soil before planting, you can still add some slow release vegetable fertilizer like 14-14-14 at planting time. Feed plant with another dose of fertilizer in growing season. Water plants immediately after fertilizing.

Trellising Plants

As bitter gourd grows as a vine so it is necessary to save fruits from getting in touch with wet or moist ground. Make the vine climb on fence or any other support, this process is known as trellising. You can mulch the ground with dried leaves, straw etc thus avoiding any direct contact of fruit and soil.  

Harvesting

Harvest the crop after 2 to 4 months of planting. Mature fruits are light green and juicy but bitter. Pick the fruits every 2-3 days when they are still at the tender stage. Regular picking is important as fruits will become bitterer as they mature and it can also hamper the growth of new fruits.

Leave some fruits to reach full maturity if they have to be reserved for subsequent crops. When fully mature, the fruits will break open and release brown or white seeds which can be collected.

Best Tips For Growing Vegetables At Home - Part 5 ( Cauliflower / Phool Gobhi )

Cauliflower can be grown with minimal care and limited space like containers. Cauliflower's health benefits include vitamin C and fiber. It is sensitive to extreme temperatures. Primarily a cool-weather crop, cauliflower won’t produce heads in hot weather. Try below tips for success.

Propagation

Cauliflower is grown by seeds. It can be propagated by seedlings purchased from garden centre / nursery also. If you are willing to grow in container then container sized 12 inch deep 12 inch wide should be used. Container bigger than this would be great.

Sow seeds half inch deep in soil bed. Maintain spacing of 18 inch in all direction.

Soil

Soil pH should be in range of 6-7.  Cauliflower requires trace elements like Boron for growth and an alkaline soil is boron deficient so alkaline soil should be avoided. Good source of trace elements is rock phosphate and granite dust. Or use soil rich in organic matter as it is hardly boron deficient.

Sun / Temperature

Cauliflower plant should receive 6-8 hrs of sunlight each day.

Watering

Provide at least 1 inch of water a week, soaking the soil to the depth of 6 inches. Cauliflower needs constant moisture to produce large, tender heads; soil that dries out between watering will cause heads to open up and become ‘ricey’. Use a thick layer of mulch  to cut down on evaporation and weeds and cool the soil. Be careful not to disturb roots when weeding as damaged roots produce uneven growth.

Fertilizer

Give young plants monthly light feedings with fish emulsion or compost tea. To speed up growth feed every 2 weeks.

Blanching

Process of shading  out the sunlight so that cauliflower heads do not turn yellowish or brownish. Prepare plants for blanching on a sunny afternoon when the plants are totally dry as damp heads tends to rot. Just bend some of plants’ own leaves above head and tuck them in on opposite sides. Keep some room for air circulation for heads to grow.

Blanching is not needed when you are growing lime green, orange, purple heads or ‘self blanching’ varieties.

Harvesting

Mature heads can range in size from 6 inches to 12 inches across. Harvest when the buds are still tight and unopened. With sharp knife cut them off just below the head.

Caring Tips

Use 1 cup flour + 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper and sprinkle all over the garden. The mixture will keep worms away from plants.

Best Tips For Growing Vegetables at Home - Part 2 ( Okra / Gumbo / Ladyfingers/ Bhindi )

Ladyfingers are the edible seedpods of the okra plant (Abelmoschus esculentus) and are also known as gumbo. The plant is related to cotton and hibiscus and is originally from Africa. Indian lady fingers (Bhindi ) is another name for the vegetable known as okra in the U.S. and gumbo in parts of Africa. Lady fingers are a common ingredient in several Indian dishes. The plant is an annual that produces large ornamental flowers.

Propagation

It is propagated from seeds. Wrap the seeds in a moist paper towel the night before you are planting them. This overnight soaking will speed up the germination process. Plant the seeds in the garden, sowing them 1 inch deep. Space the seeds 4 to 6 inches apart and keep rows 3 feet apart. When the seedlings have sprouted, thin them so that individual plants are spaced 12 to 15 inches apart.

Soil

Ladyfinger can be grown in any place with good drainage system. The pH of soil should be 6-6.8. Cover the soil with a 2-inch layer of organic compost and mix it into the soil with your shovel at a depth of 6 inches.

Watering

Water the ladyfingers immediately after planting and water it once or twice a week when soil gets completely dry. Irrigate your plants during dry spells, aiming to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Water the plant in the morning to allow them to dry out.

Sun / Temperature

Long, warm and wet climate is considered to be the best. For seed-growth 25-30 degree centigrade temperature is suitable, below 16 degree centigrade the seeds do not grow. This crop can grow both in summer and winter.

Fertilizer

Feed plants with more fertilizer when they reach 6 inches tall and again 2 or 3 weeks later, if desired. Dig a trench 6 inches deep along the plants’ drip line. Cover the fertilizer and water thoroughly.

Harvesting

Harvest ladyfinger pods once they are 2 or 3 inches long and harvest regularly as leaving large pods on the plant reduces overall yield.