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Dark Jade Bitter Gourd is a high-yielding hybrid that brings authentic Asia-type bitter gourd to your warm-season garden. Dark green, bumpy-skinned fruits grow 8-10 inches long and weigh about half a pound each, reaching harvest in just 50-59 days. Hardy in zones 9-12, this annual vine flourishes in full sun and produces the traditional bitter gourd prized across Asian cuisines for stir-fries, soups, and fresh juicing.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-12
16in H x ?in W
—
High
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Dark green, heavily bumped fruits with the authentic appearance of bitter gourds grown throughout Asia give this hybrid immediate authenticity in the kitchen. The vine produces abundant yields in warm conditions, with individual fruits reaching harvestable size within 50-59 days of planting. These gourds stay true to the India-type flavor and texture that defines traditional Asian cooking, making this hybrid a genuine bridge between seed packet and wok.
Bitter gourd serves best in stir-fries, where its crisp texture and signature bitter bite balance other ingredients beautifully. It takes well to soups, curries, and broths common across Asian cooking, where its flavor deepens with cooking. The fruits can also be juiced fresh, capturing their herbal, medicinal character, or sliced thin and used in salads for those who enjoy the full intensity of its taste.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date, maintaining soil temperature between 70-85°F for steady germination. Transplant seedlings outdoors only after frost danger has completely passed and soil has warmed to at least 70°F.
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor sun and wind. Transplant when nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 60°F and soil has warmed. Space plants 48 inches apart to allow vines room to sprawl or climb.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only when soil temperature reaches 70°F or warmer and all frost danger has passed. Sow seeds where you want vines to grow, thinning seedlings to 48-inch spacing once they emerge.
Pick fruits when they reach 8-10 inches long and while the skin still has a firm, slightly waxy feel; the bumpy surface should feel substantial but yield slightly to pressure. Harvest consistently to encourage continued production throughout the warm season. Use a clean knife to cut fruits from the vine rather than pulling, which can damage the plant.
Train vines onto trellises or stakes early in the season to encourage vertical growth and improve air circulation. Pinching back the main vine after it reaches 12-16 inches can encourage branching and more prolific fruiting.
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