Abstract
A preliminary study on bitter gourd, Momordica charantia L., an exotic crop grown extensively in China and India for consumption and medicinal purposes was conducted during summer 1992. The objective of the investigation was to determine the potential of bitter gourd as an alternate corp for small farm production. On May 21, seeds were planted on hills 3 m apart. A 1.65 m high chicken-wire trellis was erected for trailing the crop. Observations on disease and insect incidence, flowering date, fruiting pattern and yield were recorded. The crop was disease free, but was infested with whitefly and stinkbug. Flowering started about 60 days after planting. The first harvest was made on August 10 and then continued three times a week for eight weeks. The fruit yield peaked during the sixth week of harvest. Average fruit length and diameter were 20 and 6 cm, respectively. Per plant average fruit number and fresh fruit weight were 87 and 12.9 kg, respectively. The preliminary results indicate that bitter gourd has a potential as an alternate crop for small farm vegetable production.
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