Big Heart Bitter Melon Seeds | Heart-Shaped Bitter Gourd | F1 Hybrid Non-GMO

Big Heart Bitter Melon Seeds (Heart-Shaped Bitter Gourd)

Grow a unique heart-shaped bitter melon on a vigorous climbing vine. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is a warm-season cucurbit widely grown across Asia and other tropical/subtropical regions for its distinctive flavor and traditional culinary uses.

What makes “Big Heart” special

• Distinctive heart-shaped green fruit (bitter gourd / bitter melon type)

• Vigorous vining habit—great on a trellis for cleaner fruit & easier harvest

• Non-GMO seeds (no genetic modification)

• F1 hybrid selection (strong growth and uniformity)

Quick Growing Guide (from seed)

When to plant: After danger of frost, when nights stay warm; bitter melon needs heat.
Seed germination: Warm soil helps a lot—germination is slow if soil is cool/dry; ideal germination temps are commonly ~75–85°F.
Trellis: A ~6 ft trellis is commonly recommended; vines can grow very long (up to ~16 ft).
Pollination: Bitter melon relies on insects (bees) for fruit set; hand pollination can help if pollinators are low.

Harvest tip: Pick fruit while green (or slightly yellow) for best texture; overripe fruit can turn yellow/orange.

Time to Harvest

• Typical ranges vary by climate and heat:

  • ~50 days after seeding reported for first harvest timing in warm Florida conditions

  • Many seed guides list ~70–90 days to maturity depending on conditions

(Hotter/longer summers = faster and heavier production.)

Basic Product Information

Latin Name: Momordica charantia (L.)
Other Names: Bitter gourd, bitter squash, goya, karela, balsam pear
Color: Green when immature; can turn yellow/orange when fully ripe
Flavor: Characteristically bitter; commonly used as an unripe fruit/vegetable in cooking
Days to Maturity: ~50–90 days (varies by heat; see “Time to Harvest”)
Hardiness Zone: Grown as a tender warm-season annual in most zones; plants die at frost
Planting Depth: ~1/2 inch (about 1–1.5 cm)
Plant Spacing: 18–24 in on trellis systems is common; wider spacing may be used for large vines
Row Spacing: Often 3–6 ft depending on trellis/training system
Growth Habit: Fast-growing tendril vine; benefits from trellising
Soil Preference: Rich, organic, well-drained soil; add compost for best growth
Temp Preference: Warm-season crop; best growth in heat; warm soil speeds germination
Light Preference: Full sun (partial shade helps in extreme heat)

Common Pests / Diseases (what to watch for)

Pests (cucurbit pests): aphids, cucumber beetles, whiteflies, spider mites, cutworms (varies by region).

Diseases: downy mildew, powdery mildew, Fusarium wilt, target leaf spot; root-knot nematodes can also be an issue.

Tip: Trellising + spacing for airflow helps reduce foliar disease pressure.