How to grow Bitter Melon in Australia
Grow bitter melon in full sun in warm, rich, well-drained soil, and give it a strong trellis to climb as the vines are vigorous. Water regularly and feed during fruiting.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 6 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 100 cm
- Time to harvest: 70 days
- Time to germinate: 10 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to February | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to February | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | October to January | Marginal tropical; only in warm microclimates (Northern Beaches, Sutherland); shorter sow window than SEQ baseline. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Needs warmth; sow Nov to Dec only. Will not fruit if sown earlier. Too cold May to Oct. |
| Adelaide & SA | October and November | Marginal. Sow Oct to Nov in a hot sheltered spot once soil warms. Yields are modest in dry heat; extra water helps. |
| Perth & WA | September and October | Sow Sep to Oct. Bitter melon needs a long warm run, so start it early; the vine dies off once winter cold arrives. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Tropical vine needing constant warmth. Not viable in Tasmania. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Bitter Melon unsuitable for Canberra: tropical vine; frost kills. Short warm window insufficient for long growing season. |
| North Queensland | September to February | Wet season Sep to Feb. Bitter melon is tropical staple; thrives in monsoonal heat and humidity. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to February | Wet season Sep to Feb. Bitter melon is tropical staple; thrives in monsoonal heat and humidity. |
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Harvest while skin is still firm, ridged and light green to pale, before it yellows and splits. Cut with a short stalk and the vine keeps fruiting.
Storage
Fridge in a bag, up to 1 week.