Cultural Bitter Gourd
Season	Wet Season : June -July Summer : Jan - March
Climate	Warm season crop (tropical / subtropical), it requires long period of warm preferably dry weather with abundant sunshine. Susceptible to frost. Humidity promotes DM, 0 0 Anthracnose, virus disease & pest fruit fly. Average Temperature 30 -35 C.
Temperature	Av. temperature 30 C, Min. 20 C & Max. 40 C
Nursery	Direct Sowing
Soil & Land Preparation	Well drained, loamy, tolerant to slightly acidic soil.
Seed Rate	500 - 800 g/acre
Irrigation	Irrigate as & when required based on the soil type & the local practices.
Spacing	Row to Row : 150-180 cm & Plant to Plant : 60 cm
Fertilizer Kg/Acre	NPK-100:80:80
Flower Initiation	i) Male-45-46 days (20-21 node) th ii) Female-50-52 days (24-25 node)
1st Picking	55-60 DAS
Growth Regulator	i) Ethrel - @ 200 ppm, seed soaking / hr differentiation of female flowers, ii) Ga3 - @ 100 ppm seed soaking - enhances germination, iii) BA @ 25 ppm, seed soaking differentiation of Female flowers
Yield T/ha	24-26 T
Avg. per Fruit Weight (g)	80-120 g
Major Impediment	Fruit Fly : After summer rains due to high humidity
Remedies / Control Measures	Ulala 0.5 g/l for Leaf Minor, Imidagold 0.5 ml/l for Aphids & Thrips, Lancergold 2.5 g/l for White Flies control.
Harvesting:	Fruits should not turn yellow / yellowish orange during transport, hence fruits are picked at green.
Key Points	Bitterness : Metaxenia - Pollens carries bitter principle & when bitter pollens fertilizes non-bitter ovule resulting fruit will be bitter, while cooking people try to remove it by cutting both the ends being more concentrated towards the tips
Export Standards	Green, 20 cm L, narrow necked, dened
# of Seeds /g	7-8