What did you do in the garden today?

[gtaus]

The trellis looks great! What do bitter melons taste like?

I don't eat bitter melons. Dear Wife is a Philippina, and she makes stirs fry with the bitter melon and maybe some pork. It's not a dish that most native Americans would probably enjoy. I have tried some in the past, but it's too bitter for my taste. But it's a taste of home for her, so well worth attempting to grow some. She is very happy.

Dear Wife and I have been married for 35+ years. I really like most of her Asian food cooking, but some things are "too native" for my palate. I also don't like dishes with patis, a fish oil extract, which they like to add to some of their dishes. I can pass on salted eggs as well. But she is good at knowing what I will like and what she makes only for herself. When she goes "native" on me, we might have two separate meals at the same time! She will make something for me, toned down to my taste, and have the extra special "native" ingredients added for herself.

 

[gtaus]

My six vines are producing like I would like to see my cukes do. LOL
Bitter melon juice frozen, dried, & frozen enough for winter I hope so.

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Your plants are way ahead of ours. But I live in northern Minnesota, zone 3b. Where do you live? Location matters and I am sure our climate in Minnesota is not warm enough for the tropical bitter melons to produce to their full potential here. Next year we are going to try starting some bitter melon plants in the house, maybe like 8 weeks early, and transplant them later. Already our nights are getting down in the 40F's, and I suspect that is too cold for a tropical plant.

But, like I said, this was our first attempt at growing bitter melon and Dear Wife is very happy with our results.

 

[Farmer13]

Your plants are way ahead of ours. But I live in northern Minnesota, zone 3b. Where do you live? Location matters and I am sure our climate in Minnesota is not warm enough for the tropical bitter melons to produce to their full potential here. Next year we are going to try starting some bitter melon plants in the house, maybe like 8 weeks early, and transplant them later. Already our nights are getting down in the 40F's, and I suspect that is too cold for a tropical plant.

But, like I said, this was our first attempt at growing bitter melon and Dear Wife is very happy with our results.

We are in Western NC mountains Zone 6b.
Started the melons 4 weeks before last frost, Apr. 10th.


We tried the Asian BM & it took too long so we tried the Indian BM & it is a real producer. Personally I like the Indian variety better but they all are good.

We got our seeds from: https://www.rareseeds.com/bitter-melon-ganjyu


Our first bitter melon next to a Suyo long cucumber July 23rd.

 

[Sequel]

They sure look like the cornflowers we have alongside cornfields in Illinois. Have you tried the “picture this” app? Really cool plant ID app. Take a pic and get ID of subject plant you shoot along with pretty good info.

I looked it up on my app and it said chicory.

 

[muddy75]

I need to tend the garden today but it will wait... finally taking a few hours down time

 

[WthrLady]

On day one of 7 of hideous heat - currently feels like 112'F

 

[Sally PB]

Butternut, produced well, several still waiting to be picked.

I have ONE butternut squash that is light green and ... two inches long. No way it'll grow and ripen in what time it has left. And that's IF something doesn't eat it.

This is it for b-nut squash for me for a few years. It used to be my no-fail crop. This is the 3rd year I won't get any. They take too much space to give me nothing.

 

[NanaK]

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Different stages of greenstalk plantings. Ever changing

Beautiful!
Greenstalk should give you a gift card. This would make a great advertisement!

 

[gtaus]

We are in Western NC mountains Zone 6b.
Started the melons 4 weeks before last frost, Apr. 10th.


We tried the Asian BM & it took too long so we tried the Indian BM & it is a real producer. Personally I like the Indian variety better but they all are good.

We got our seeds from: https://www.rareseeds.com/bitter-melon-ganjyu


Our first bitter melon next to a Suyo long cucumber July 23rd.

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Thanks for all the info. You confirmed my suspicion that I really need to start the bitter melon seeds early next year. Our average frost date is May 30th, a full month and a half after you.

Frankly, I told Dear Wife that we might not get any bitter melons to grow since our season is so short, but we are getting some. I don't know what variety of bitter melon they are, but I'll have to check out the Indian BM you like so well.

FYI, I started my tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants about 1 Apr, which was about 8 weeks before our average last frost date. That really worked out well for me as the plants have never been so strong or tall as they were this year. Much better than the transplants from the big box stores ever were.

Also, and I think this is very important, I started all my plants in 3-inch net cups which allowed the roots to air prune while growing in the house for those first 8 weeks. I had no root bound plants when I put them in the garden the end of May. When I transplanted them into the garden, they just exploded and I have my best success ever this year!

When it comes to gardening, I celebrate any and all successes, great or small.

 

[fuzzi]

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Different stages of greenstalk plantings. Ever changing

I have something similar that I use for annuals.