Description
- An annual, monoecious plant with indeterminate growth, reaching 2-3 m in height in the open field and 3-5 m under protected cultivation.
- Before ripening, the fruit is a whitish green; at physiological maturity it turns orange.
- The fruit has an intensely bitter taste at the green stage, which softens slightly at physiological maturity.
- The fruit is widely used in traditional medicine for hypoglycaemic treatments, helping to lower blood sugar levels, and is particularly beneficial for people with diabetes. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Bitter gourd is used in traditional Asian and Indian dishes, often fried, boiled or stuffed, in recipes that balance its intense flavour with the addition of spices and other ingredients.
- The yield potential is 10-12 kg per plant under protected cultivation and 5-6 kg per plant in the open field.