Momordica charantia (colloquially: bitter melon; bitter apple; bitter gourd; bitter squash; balsam-pear; with many more names listed below) is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit.Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. Leaves under attack by melon thrips, long yellow to whitish insects with a black line down their backs, will also yellow before turning brown and dropping off. The right time to harvest your Bitter gourd is when the fruit’s skin is green with slight specks of yellow, at which point they are normally around 6 inches in length. Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is an important vegetable crop and is grown for its immature tuberculate fruits which have a unique bitter taste.Fruits are considered as a rich source of vitamins and minerals and 88 mg vitamin C per 100 g. Fruits are used after cooking and delicious preparations are made after stuffing and frying. Bitter melon, a tropical fruit known by several names, including bitter gourd and wild cucumber, could be effective in controlling certain diseases. Bitter melon, or bitter gourd, is not only known for its sharp flavor and distinct appearance but may also have positive effects on health.

Uneven watering will cause plants to produce bitter compounds that affect taste. Bitter melon, or bitter gourd, is not only known for its sharp flavor and distinct appearance but may also have positive effects on health. Recently, AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center spearheaded a project called the Bitter Gourd Project which "aims to improve the incomes and health of the poor in developing countries, particularly the quality of life of diabetics, through scientific research on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)."

Background: Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) is a member of the squash family and is very popular in Asia, Africa, Caribbean, In-dia and Middle Eastern counties. It is also called balsam pear. I think pollination helped but not sure. Bitter gourd (melon) nutrition facts Bitter gourd (balsam pear/ bitter melon) is a young, tender, edible fruit-pod in the Momordica genus of climbing vines. The Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) aka Bitter Melon is a vine that grows in tropical and subtropical climates.It is widely grown in Asia, Africa, and in the Caribbean, but might be encountered anywhere that it might have been raised. It may possibly result in dangerously low blood sugar levels, which lead to death as well []. The common name bitter gourd is used in the United States to refer to the bitter melon (Momordica charantia).