Bitter Melon - Momordica charantia.
This is a vigorous, fast growing climbing vine that’s one of the most popular vegetables in China, Taiwan,
Vietnam, Thailand, India and the Philippines.
It is grown mainly for the young immature fruits but the young leaves and tips are also edible. It can grow to 5m and produces cucumber like fruit with a very warty skin.
The 15-20cm fruit are mostly eaten cooked in their green state but can be eaten raw.
They have a very bitter taste which goes well in curry dishes.
Bitter melon has some medicinal uses and research shows it to be effective with ailments of the stomach, in the treatment of diabetes and possibly in the treatment of some cancers.
The plant is best sown after the soils warms up in spring. It flowers in Dec-Jan and fruits from Mar-May.
Sow the seeds 10mm deep, after frost, or start early in punnets and then transplant into the garden when the soil is warm.