6/2/25: Oviedo, Florida, Zone 10A: This is an on going documentary of the different culinary bitter melon varieties I grow from seed in my little edible garden.

Bitter Melon Varieties

• Pearl Goya (Spring 2025)
• White Pearl F1
• Jumbo White Bitter Melon
• Long White Reishi
• Jyunpaku Okinawa Pure White
• Green Skin Bitter Melon

Pearl Goya Bitter Melon

• Variety: Pearl Goya Bittermelon
• Seed Source: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
• Result: Dislike growing
• Pollinator: green flies
• Location: backyard with morning shade in a 15-gallon pot, Oviedo, FL, zone 10A
• Pros: Hundreds of beautiful bright yellow flowers blooming continuously.
• Cons: Hundreds of flowers but only one fruit. Its poor production rate is not worth for me to let it take up so much space in my little garden. Fruit size is small rabbit from three to four inches long.

Growing Bittermelon from Seeds:

• Seedling Potting Mix: recipe (attach link)
• Seed prepping: Scarify the seeds by clipping the pointy end off just enough to allow water to penetrate into the seed. Soak seeds for 15 minutes in lukewarm water. Place one seed in each 3.3-inch seedling pot. Cover seed tray with a dome. I am using the Barestrap Famer seedling pots and tray system.
• Water as needed
• Bittermelon is a summer crop, striving in climate zones with summer temperatures in the 80s to high 90s.
• Seed sellers: Pan Asia Heirloom on Etsy