In the tropics of Africa, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia, the bitter gourd is considered both a culinary delicacy and a health food.
In the Philippines, this vine fruit is termed “ampalaya” and has historical roots and cultural learned lore as a remedy for numerous ailments, or eaten in stir-fries, soups, and drinks.
If you’d like to get in on the curious, bitter flavor of this knobbly green or yellow gourd, you can grow some yourself.
In this Grower’s Guide, we will share all you need to know to be successful growing ampalaya.
What is ampalaya?
Momordica charantia – if you haven’t heard of this bitter gourd, that’s what this subtropical vine that yields edible fruit is called.
Originally native to Africa, it has since spread to the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.
With widespread distribution, there will be many different varieties with differing shapes and levels of bitterness.
Here are some alternative names for this knobbly fruit:
- bitter melon
- balsam-pear
- bitter apple
- bitter squash
Culinary uses and health properties of ampalaya
A key motivator for growing ampalaya is its notable medicinal properties including:
- Flavonoids and alkaloids that promote insulin production
- Antioxidant-rich
- Antimicrobial properties
- Antipyretic properties
- Sources of vitamins A, B, C, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and folic acid.
A staple in cooking in African, Caribbean, and Asian cultures, many people eat its shoots and leaves raw in salads!
Check out some tasty ampalaya recipes below.
Growing ampalaya
This is a tropical plant, but like a number of melons and other gourds, the conditions can be modified to make it a success in a wider climate area.
Here are the major points.
Climate
If you’re interested in growing ampalaya, the optimal USDA plant hardiness zones for ampalaya are:
- Zone 9 which has a minimum average temperature range of 25°F to 30°F (-3°C to -1°C) such as Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
- Zone 11 which has a minimum average temperature range of 40°F to 50°F (4.4°C to 10°C) such as Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
As you can see warm weather is advantageous but theoretically you could successfully grow in slightly cooler climates using a hot house.
Furthermore, ampalaya is a full sun plant.
When do you plant ampalaya?
The ideal time to transplant ampalaya seedlings is during the winter (October to February) because they will produce more flowers when it is cool, and thus a better crop when it is warm.
Ampalaya soil requirements
Ampalaya can be grown in all soil types but prefers sandy-loamy soil that drains well.
If soil is nutrient poor it must be prepared by adding organic material. An acid pH of between 5.5 to 6.7 is preferred.
Starting ampalaya from seed
Growing ampalaya by seed involves assisting the seed germination process by first breaking the tough seed coat of the ampalaya seed.
You can do this with a nail cutter or snips.
Then, the seeds should be soaked in water overnight, wrapped with a damp cloth, and left in a warm & dark place until the seed coat breaks down more.
The seed is ready to seed in a good potting medium that has good drainage when watering your young vines.
Note – It works best to seed 2 to 3 seeds per pot. The seeds will germinate in 5 to 10 days when watered well.
Transplanting ampalaya
Ampalaya seedlings may be planted when they begin to develop their first true leaves.
In general this is about 3 weeks after germinating.
On another note there are many growers that will transition the young seedlings into sacks or planters rather than sow straight to the ground.
Feeding and watering ampalaya
While growing ampalaya is suited for hot conditions, it should also not be over-watered.
It will not do well in water-logged soils or overly humid environments as they can promote disease. Water it every couple days and at the same time as feedings.
Feeds can be applied in compost-form organic probiotics and liquid NPK weekly.
Some growers also put down some urea of hummus-rich compost before planting out ampalaya.
Support ampalaya with trellis or frames
Like any fruit vine, Ampalaya adores climbing.
You’ll have to provide a trellis or a frame to distribute the necessary support that improves fruit quality.
You could buy a pre-made trellis, or you could create a custom structure that will support overhead growth and vertical growth as well.
You’ll use twine to support the vines that can grow a long as 16 feet!
Pruning ampalaya growth
Pruning will enhance the vigor, quality and flavor of your ampalaya crop.
Similar to tomatoes, prune the leaves and any lateral vines which are within one meter of the ground. Focus your growth energy on your fruit by pruning any unproductive vines.
You can consume ampalaya in fresh or cooked preparations, and defective fruits can also be pruned in a similar manner.
How long does ampalaya take to grow?
Ampalaya has a similar growth rate to squash and other gourd-type vegetables and will start producing fruit approximately 60 – 70 days after planting.
(When in a bloom stage) you can expect to see fruits come on in 18 to 20 days.
Once the vine produces you can generally harvest these thick, green juicy fruits every 2 to 4 days once they start to produce.
As you cut open a ripe ampalaya you will notice the seeds are still immature.
Harvesting ampalaya
To harvest the ampalaya fruit, support the gourd with one hand, using a sharp knife cut the peduncle.
Do ampalaya have pests or diseases?
- The one pest that can cause the most harm to ampalaya is fruitfly, which can quickly ruin and destroy any fruit that is developing. They can be managed physically by wrapping the fruit to protect it from the fruit fly, or by spraying fruit fly attractants to draw the insects away from the fruit.
- Bacterial wilt is a fairly common disease among vine fruit and gourds, and it can kill ampalaya plants quickly and cause the disease to spread. This disease can be avoided by promoting benign microorganisms in the plant’s soil and removing diseased or damaged plants in a way that avoids the spread of the disease contagion.
Feast on your harvested ampalaya!
When grown properly, a healthy vigorous ampalaya plant can be a prolific producer, and you’re going to need to know what to do with that fruit.
So, here are some frequently asked questions for cooking ampalaya fruit.
How do you cook with ampalaya?
There are ways to cook ampalaya.
Sauteed or stir-fried with garlic and onions is one of the the food you can try.
Here is how to prepare this fruit:
- Wash the ampalaya and trim both ends.
- Cut the ampalaya in half.
- Spoon out the immature seeds and strings.
- Slice and fry it with your other vegetables as well as your seasonings.
- Serve hot!
Here are some classic ampalaya recipes for you to try:
- Ampalaya con Carne
- Ampalaya Guisado
- Ginisang Ampalaya
How do you make ampalaya not bitter when cooking?
You can eliminate the bitterness of ampalaya with salt.
Many individuals rub salt into the flesh or soak the fruit in salt water to extract the bitterness.
Please do this 20 to 30 minutes prior to cooking, and rinse prior to putting it in the pan!
How long does it take for ampalaya to cook?
Regardless of the other stir-fried vegetable, it’s best to enjoy your ampalaya crisp and crunchy, like courgette but significantly bitter, in just a few minutes.
Rounding up
If your growing conditions are on point you will have a healthy, wholesome food on your table.
It is an excellent growing project for your urban garden or homestead.
The bitterness is noticeable whose fact will probably grow on you!