trefle.io · Taken Feb 3, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Cucurbitaceae
Bitter bottle gourd
Cucurbita pepo
Also known as Bitter gourd, Bitter melon, Balsam pear, Cucurbita pepo var. chrysobela
Edibles & Herbs · Native Plants · Gourd · Cucurbit · Vine · Vegetable Garden · Squash · Ornamental Gourd · Summer Crop · Trellis · Heirloom
Bitter bottle gourd thrives in warm conditions with consistent moisture and at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Provide sturdy trellising to support vigorous vines and amend soil with compost before planting. Monitor for pests such as squash vine borers and cucumber beetles throughout the growing season.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply until soil is evenly moist; avoid waterlogging · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Temperature
- 60°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 9a-12b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 36 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Albania, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arkansas, Assam, Azores, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil South, Burkina, California, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caroline Is., Cayman Is., China South-Central
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda, aspca
More Cucurbita
Related plants from the same genus
Buy this plant
No nurseries currently list it
No nursery lists Bitter bottle gourd right now.