How to grow Bitter Gourd (karela) from seed in the balcony garden

May 18, 2025

Aakanksha Sharma

Grow Karela at home

Nobody likes Bitter gourd, and very few people would want to actually grow it at home. But, for a true gardening enthusiast, this will be another challenge. And to put cherry on top, bitter gourds can easily grow from seeds. Here are a few steps to grow it on the balcony.

Pick the bitter gourd seeds

To grow bitter gourd at home, you can do it with both the bitter gourd you buy from the market, or you can buy healthy seeds from a nursery near you. When you buy seeds from a trusted source, the chances of germination are much better.

The right pot

Bitter gourd plants will need a deep and wide container because their roots spread well, and they grow upwards. Make sure the pot is also heavy and sturdy as the vegetable, when it grows, will bend down the plant.

The right location

Bitter gourd plant needs to be in a warm and sunny location for it to germinate and also to grow. Keep the pot or container somewhere it will get atleast 6 hours of sunlight.

Pre-soak the seeds before germination

Before sowing, soak the bitter gourd seeds in water overnight. The dry seed will look like a small raisin, and once it softens, you can add it to the soil mix.

The right soil

The best soil composition for Bitter gourd seeds is to keep a mix of soil, sand, vermicompost, and cocopeat. Mix 60% of soil, 30% of vermicompost, and about 10% cocopeat together, water it lightly, and add the seeds in it.

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Watering needs

After sowing, only mist the soil for the first 2 weeks, up until the time they germinate. Once you see the first leaves emerge from the leaves, start watering the plant once a day.

Add a trellis

As the plant grows and reaches about 10-12 inches in height, it is time to set up a trellis and the vines climb upwards. Gently train the plant to grow along the trellis, and it will flower eventually.

Pollination time

If there are no bees or insects near the plant, pollination will be difficult. So pick out a few flowers, one that has thin stems and one on which you can see little bitter gourds, and pollinate them with your hand.

Fertilising

After pollinating, if you see that the female flower is growing even more and the bitter gourd behind the flower is also growing, it is time to start fertilisation. You can add a liquid-based fertiliser or growth booster straight to the soil.

Prune regularly

Bitter gourd is also a very leaf-heavy plant, and thus needs to be pruned often. Pinch or cut the leaves if they are in excess. Also, cut off any yellow leaves as they could affect the plant.

Harvest at the right time

The right time to harvest the bitter gourd will come in about 3-5 months. When the Bitter gourd is long enough, has a slight dark green tint, and is weighing down, it is perfect to harvest now. But make sure not to let it turn yellow or it won’t be fresh anymore.

Thanks For Reading!

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