What is Momordica Charantia: an overview of an exotic vegetable, the stages of its cultivation and medicinal properties
More and more often in the markets of Russia there are exotic plants grown by domestic gardeners on their plots. Among them, fruits with a yellow needle peel and red granular flesh are of particular interest. This unusual vegetable has a beautiful name - "momordica charantia". It is actively cultivated by gardeners around the world.
Momordica harantia is rapidly gaining popularity in our country. This is due not only to the interesting appearance and taste of the vegetable, but also to its medicinal properties. The fruits are used to prepare various dishes and are used in folk medicine. Why this plant is useful and how to grow it in your area - read on.
The content of the article
What is Momordica Harantia
Momordica charantia is an annual plant from the pumpkin family.... It is a herbaceous vine. This vegetable comes from Asia, where it is actively used to prepare various dishes.
Popularly, the name "momordica" is rarely used. Usually this vegetable is called:
It is a heat-loving plant. In our country, it is grown outdoors only in the southern regions. In the central and northern part of Russia, momordica is planted in a greenhouse or under a film shelter.
Bitter cucumber looks very unusual. It has an oblong shape and a dense skin covered with projections resembling needles (see photo).
The inside of the vegetable contains light yellow pulp and seeds with a red shell. The seeds, pulp, flowers and leaves of the plant are eaten.
The taste of the fruit depends on the stage of its development. When still green, the flesh is refreshing and crispy, reminiscent of a cucumber. When ripe, the vegetable becomes bitter. The seeds of green fruits are bitter too. When the peel of the vegetable turns yellow, a juicy pericarp with a pleasant sweet taste will form around the seeds. It is often described as a mixture of persimmon and pumpkin.
Composition and nutritional value
Momordica charantia not only has an unusual appearance and pleasant taste, but also contains many useful substances:
- vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, E, F, K, PP;
- minerals: potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, calcium, iron, zinc, manganese;
- alkaloids;
- flavonoids;
- amino acids;
- triterpene saponins;
- organic acids.
The inclusion of this vegetable in the diet has a positive effect on the state of the human body. It is also suitable for diet food. 100 g of the product contains 0.1 g of fat, 0.8 g of protein and 3 g of carbohydrates. The total energy value is only 15 kcal.
Plant characteristics
Momordica charantia brings great benefits to human health. It is really worth planting it on your site, but before you start growing this plant, you need familiarize yourself with its characteristics:
| Parameters | Indicators |
| Plant type | Herbaceous vine up to 4 m long. Shoots are long, thin, but strong. The leaves are dark green, large, dissected into 5-9 lobes. The stem is pentahedral, covered with antennae and longitudinal grooves. The flowers are large, heterogeneous, have five yellow petals. Pedicels of male flowers are longer than female ones. Female flowers begin to form later than male flowers |
| Fruit | Large, fusiform or oval in shape. The length of one fruit varies between 8-40 cm. The rind is covered with papillary protrusions. In an unripe form, the fruit is bright green on the outside, and a light green hue inside. The pulp is dense, crispy, watery, and tastes like a cucumber. The seeds are white, soft, bitter, the pericarp is absent. When ripe, the peel takes on a yellow or orange tint. The pulp also turns yellow, and its amount decreases. It tastes bitter. The main volume inside the fruit is filled with seeds with a bright red pericarp. The raw pericarp is sweet, with a pumpkin flavor. Some associate its taste with persimmon. At the moment of full ripening, the fruit cracks, exposing the seeds |
| Seeds | Gray or brown. They resemble pumpkin in shape, but have uneven edges. The shell is thin but very strong |
| Growing conditions | A warm and light-loving vegetable. In the southern regions, it is possible to grow outdoors. In the northern and central lane, the plant is cultivated in greenhouses and under film shelters. Also, Chinese bitter gourd is grown at home and on the balcony. |
| Ripening terms | Fruiting lasts from early July to late September |
Benefits of Chinese Bitter Gourd
Due to its rich composition, the vegetable has an extensive list of useful properties. Therefore, it is actively used in folk medicine and even used for weight loss.
Useful properties of momordica:
- increasing the intensity of metabolic processes;
- cleansing the body of toxins, toxins and harmful cholesterol;
- activation of immunity;
- strengthening the secretory function of the pancreas;
- lowering blood sugar levels;
- increased hemoglobin levels;
- removal of free radicals;
- increased visual acuity;
- reduction of inflammation;
- antimicrobial action;
- elimination of itching and swelling from insect bites.
Note! There is information on the Internet that Momordica harantia has anti-cancer, anti-diabetic properties and the ability to suppress HIV. This information is not scientifically proven. Such self-medication is dangerous to life and health.
Momordica harm
Before consuming momordica or using it for medicinal purposes, you must familiarize yourself with the possible side effects:
- abortive properties;
- allergic reaction;
- cough and sore throat;
- lowering blood sugar levels;
- tremor of the limbs;
- nausea and vomiting;
- temperature increase;
- digestive disorders.
Usually, such problems arise when there are contraindications to the use of Momordica harantia or when it is used in excessive quantities.
Growing stages
Chinese bitter gourd is also grown in our country. This vegetable is found on sale in the markets of southern cities.
Momordica is cultivated in warm regions in the open field. The plant has a decorative appearance, which is why it is often planted alongside fences.
In regions with more extreme climates, the vegetable is planted in protected ground. Growing on a balcony or windowsill is possible.
Planting seedlings
Momordica in our climate is most convenient to grow in seedlings. In this case, the chances that the plant will take root and have time to bear fruit are much greater. Work with seeds begins in the second half of April.
Before you start growing seedlings, you need to prepare planting material:
- Reduce the thickness of the seed coat by sanding it. The main thing is not to rub the casing through and through.
- Soak the seeds for 30 minutes in a potassium permanganate solution. This will protect the plant from disease.
- Fold the planting material into a container with warm, moist sawdust. Cover the container with foil and place in a warm place. When the seeds open, they are ready to plant.
Seeds are recommended to be sown in separate containers. It is best to use peat pots for this.
For momordika, a soil mixture is prepared from equal portions of peat, sand and humus.The store sells universal seedling soil, which is also suitable for growing bitter gourd.
The soil is disinfected before use by calcining in the oven or spilling with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.
Then the soil is watered with warm settled water and the seeds are placed in it, deepening them by 2-3 cm. The containers with seeds are placed in a warm place.
When the seeds germinate, they are placed in a room with a temperature of 16-17 ° C for a week. Then they are returned to warmth. This will help prevent the seedlings from pulling out.
Water the plants as the soil dries up. The liquid should be warm. It is important that it does not fall on the ground part of the plant.
Momordiki seedlings are not fed. Properly prepared soil contains sufficient nutrients.
Two weeks before planting in the ground, the seedlings should be hardened. For this, the plants are taken out into the street, gradually increasing their time there.
Transfer to a permanent place
For liana, Momordika choose the sunniest part of the garden. It is dug up and cleared of weeds. Humus or chicken droppings are introduced into the soil. If the acidity of the soil is increased, add ash or dry lime.
Chinese bitter gourd is planted in open ground when the soil warms up. This happens in late May or early June.
The holes are dug at a distance of 80 cm from each other. Complex mineral fertilizers are poured into them. The plants are placed in the recesses along with the peat pot. The root collar cannot be deeply buried, but it is also not necessary to leave the roots bare.
Plant care
Momordica charantia is a tall plant that needs to be tied up. For this, high, strong supports are used. Another option is to plant a Chinese bitter gourd near the fence.
The liana must be pinned, forming 3-4 stems, and remove the excess shoots and leaves. With excessive thickening of the greens, there will be little fruit.
Momordica is a moisture-loving plant. It needs to be watered at least three times a week. 10 liters of water are consumed per vine. Water in the morning or at sunset. This will reduce the likelihood of leaf burns.
When watering, the roots of Momordica are often exposed, so they are sprinkled with earth.
The vegetable is fed every three weeks. Complex fertilizers are used, which contain nitrogen, potassium and calcium.
Harvesting
The harvest time of Momordica Charantia depends on which part the gardener needs:
- The seeds with the pericarp are used in ripe form. They are harvested when the fruits turn orange.
- The pulp has a pleasant cucumber taste. It is she who is used to prepare traditional Asian hot dishes. The flesh of a bitter cucumber is edible when the fruits reach large sizes, but have a green color.
- The seeds for planting are harvested after the fruits are cracked.
- Young leaves are harvested in early June.
- The roots are harvested at the end of October. They are dried in a dry, dark place.
- Flowers are also used to prepare hot meals. They are harvested during the flowering of the plant.
Momordica fruits are stored at room temperature for only three days. In the refrigerator, they do not deteriorate for up to three weeks.
Application of bitter cucumber
In ancient times in Asia, only members of the emperor's family were allowed to eat the fruits of the momordika charantia. Now everyone can taste the vegetable, which was once a symbol of aristocratic origin.
Bitter gourd is used not only for food. In folk medicine, there are recipes with different parts of this plant. There are even homeopathic medicines that include Momordica charantia.
In cooking
Those who love to cook national dishes from different countries of the world have probably met Asian recipes with momordica harantia. It is a great success to buy this vegetable in the store, but it is not difficult to grow it on your site.
There are many recipes for Asian dishes with momordica. Below are the most interesting:
- Pork with Chinese Bitter Gourd... 0.5 kg of pork is cut into thin strips. Fry the meat in a wok until golden brown. Sliced green momordica is added. When vegetables and meat are ready, add 100 ml of soy sauce, 1 tbsp. l. vinegar and 1 tbsp. l. sesame seed. Stew for another 5 minutes. Served with rice.
- Fried momordica. The firm green fruits are cut into rings and soaked in salt water for 30 minutes. Then they are rolled in flour with the addition of turmeric and salt. Fry in a large amount of oil until golden brown.
The green fruits of momordica are pickled. The ruby-colored pulp of ripe fruits is consumed fresh.
In folk medicine
Momordica has been used in folk medicine for several hundred years. Chinese healers prepared alcoholic tinctures from it for colds, genitourinary infections and diabetes mellitus.
Decoctions from the leaves of Chinese bitter gourd are used in folk medicine to treat alcoholism and addiction to smoking. They are also used to treat prostatitis and hemorrhoids.
Contraindications
In some cases, momordica may not benefit the body, but harm. It is important to know in what cases it is forbidden to use this vegetable:
- during pregnancy;
- during lactation;
- children under the age of 16;
- with an allergic reaction.
With care, the fruits should be consumed by people with diseases of the adrenal glands, thyroid gland and gastrointestinal ulcers.
Farmers reviews
Reviews of gardeners about momordica are ambiguous. Not everyone likes the unusual taste of this vegetable.
Irina, Sochi: «It is not the first year that I have been planting momordica charantia along fences. It looks very interesting during fruiting and flowering. I tried to cook Asian dishes with green fruits. Tasty, but with pepper it would be no worse. The ripe red pulp is sweet with a pumpkin flavor. I won't say that it is very tasty, but it is healthy. Therefore, we eat it with the whole family. "
Igor, Belgorod: “For the first time I tasted Chinese bitter cucumber in Crimea. At first, the taste was not at all impressed: the slimy sweet red pulp with huge seeds had a strange taste. Later I found out that this is Momordica, which can be grown in my city. Last year I planted a couple of vines for testing near the fence. They looked very unusual, all the neighbors came to see. I did not understand the taste, but they say that this is a very healthy vegetable. In the future, I plan to plant for decoration. "
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Conclusion
Momordica Charantia is a healthy exotic vegetable. It is used for the preparation of second courses, snacks and is consumed fresh. The Chinese bitter gourd has also found its application in folk medicine. It's easy to grow momordica in our country. You just need to follow all the rules for planting seedlings and caring for the plant.