Momordica Instead Of Cucumber. Growing, Medicinal Properties. Photo

2023 Author: Ava Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 07:13

Momordica, or bitter melon, goya, belongs to the pumpkin family. Cultivated in Asian and South American countries as a food and medicinal plant. It grows well in the steppe and forest-steppe zones, but in hot summer conditions, you can get ripe fruits and seeds also in Polesie.

It is a plant with a long ripening period, preferring warm areas with good lighting. Momordica develops a strong root system and forms a large aboveground mass - the length of the liana sometimes reaches 3.5 m. Therefore, the soil for the plant should be high in nutrients and well-drained.

Growing Momordica

A plant, clinging to its antennae, is grown on supports, nets, planted near fences, arbors. Momordica leaves are unusually decorative, up to 12 cm in length. It grows rapidly in favorable conditions. In closed soil, in a room, momordica blooms even in winter, but needs to be re-pollinated. During the growing season, the plant is regularly fed with organic and mineral fertilizers, watered, preventing the earthen coma from drying out and waterlogging. Momordica can also be grown in protected soil and on balconies.

Momordica seeds are rather large, mustard-colored. They can be sown first in pots or cassettes of 8 × 8, 10 × 10 or 12 × 12 cm in size. For cultivation in closed soil conditions, this can be done already at the end of January - February, and in open soil - in March-April.

First, you need to disinfect Momordica seeds in a pink solution of potassium permanganate (20-30 minutes), then spread them between layers of damp cloth and stand for 1-3 days. In order for the seeds to sprout, scarification is carried out, that is, they damage the shell. It is best to do this with sandpaper or a file, but be careful not to damage the contents of the seed. Then the seeds are again laid out between layers of damp cloth and put to germinate in a warm place (about two weeks). When the seeds of Momordica give roots and are released from the outer shell, they are carefully planted in prepared pots with such an earth mixture: grassland peat and humus or humus and turf soil (3: 1).

Sow to a depth of 2-3 cm. Sprinkle on top with moistened earth or sand and cover with foil. They are kept at a temperature of 25 degrees until germination, after which they are transferred to the light, gradually lowering the temperature to 18-20 degrees during the day, and at night - to 14-18 degrees, then the temperature is maintained at 18-22, and at night - 12-14 degrees … When feeding momordica seedlings, you can use fertilizer for indoor plants. Seedlings are grown in greenhouses, small greenhouses, on a warm windowsill.

In the south, you can sow momordica seeds directly into the soil after May 15th. Sowing depth - 5 cm. Then cover with lutrasil, plastic wrap or put plastic bottles. Remove the shelter after the formation of the first true leaves.

Momordica seedlings are grown up to 30 days of age, so that they do not overgrow and stretch. In the last week, she is tempered. When the soil temperature at a depth of 6-10 cm reaches 16-18 degrees, it can be planted in open soil. This is usually done after May 23-25, when the threat of frost has passed. Momordica is planted in a sunny place, the distance between the plants should be 100 cm. On the balcony, it is enough to plant one plant, having prepared a large container for it, for example, a tank from an old washing machine. In the early days, the plants are covered from direct sunlight.

The soil for Momordika requires loamy, fertile soil. In the fall, they bring in 1 sq. m 5-10 kg of fresh manure or in the spring of 5 kg of humus, dug up. When the plant begins to grow vigorously, supports should be installed. In the first stages, he needs to be helped to catch hold of the antennae.

Momordika loves moisture very much, so first it is watered daily, and then periodically with water heated in the sun - about a bucket of water per plant. For fertilization, it is better to use fermented mullein diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 or chicken manure in a ratio of 1:20. They are fed once a week, 1 liter of solution is needed per plant.

The healing properties of Momordica

The long-livers of Japan love to eat Momordika. The bitterness in its fruits is due to the alkaloids of the cucurbitacin group. But this bitterness is medicinal. It promotes digestion, and is also a good prevention of liver diseases, diabetes, cancer, gout, rheumatism, spleen.

The green fruits of momordica are used like cucumbers by soaking them in salt water. Also, young fruits are salted and pickled. Ripening, they become not as bitter as at first, and the red seed shells are very pleasant, sweetish. They are also medicinal - they improve digestion, strengthen the heart. For the treatment of hemorrhoids, the skin of the fetus is used.

However, momordica is not advised to be consumed by pregnant women, and diabetic patients are not advised to monitor their sugar levels. The leaves can also be eaten, they are used to prevent kidney disease, stomach ulcers and inflammatory processes.