To increase the income of the farmers, the government encourages the production of vegetables and fruits. For this, farmers are being helped by the government. Many state governments are also giving subsidies to farmers for producing vegetables.

The primary reasons for encouraging the production of vegetables are that the vegetable crop matures quickly, which the farmer can sell and obtain profits fast. Moreover, there are many such vegetables from which profit can be earned in less time. But among these vegetables, bitter gourd is a profitable vegetable whose prices are very good in the market. With this, farmers can make a good profit from bitter gourd cultivation.

Medicinal Properties Bitter Gourd 

Due to the benefits of bitter gourd, it has a lot of market demand. This is nothing less than a boon for patients with sugar and diabetes. Doctors also advise diabetic patients to eat bitter gourd juice and bitter gourd vegetables. It helps control sugar. Many people keep it in salt water due to its bitterness and then cook it. Many types of vitamins and nutrients are found in them. Vitamins A, B and C are found in abundance in it. 

Apart from this, flavonoid nutrients like carotene, beta carotene, lutein, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium and manganese are also found. Its use gives relief to many diseases. Its use is also beneficial for skin diseases. It helps increase immunity. Its consumption increases the digestive power. Its use has also been said to be very helpful for stone patients. Apart from this, its consumption relieves vomiting and diarrhoea, reducing obesity, bloody piles, and jaundice. There are many benefits of consuming bitter gourd in this way.

Profitable Bitter Gourd Cultivation

Farmers can make higher earnings from bitter gourd cultivation at a very low cost. Many farmers say that the cost involved in bitter gourd cultivation gets up to 10 percent more yield. Because its demand remains high in the market due to which its good prices are available. Many farmers are earning good profits by growing it. In this way, bitter gourd cultivation can give income up to 10 times the cost.

Soil And Climate For Bitter Gourd Cultivation 

Sandy loam soil is considered most suitable for bitter gourd cultivation. Along with this, the river bank alluvial soil is ideal for its cultivation. Bitter gourd cultivation does not need higher temperatures. The temperature should be between 20 and 40 degrees centigrade for its good production. It is essential to maintain water content in the field for its bitter gourd cultivation.

Sowing Season For Bitter Gourd 

Bitter gourd can be produced for twelve months. Because scientists have innovated such hybrid varieties of bitter gourd from which you can grow bitter gourd throughout the year. We can categorise its planting in three methods which are as follows.

 

  • For the summer season, it can be sown from January to March.
  • In the plains, it is sown during the rainy season from June to July.
  • In hilly areas, it is planted from March to June.

Sowing Method In Bitter Gourd Cultivation

Bitter gourds can be sown by two methods—one by planting it directly in the field through seeds and the other by making its nursery. When the plant is ideal for sowing in the area, sow it. We are telling you the step-by-step method of sowing bitter gourd below, which is as follows-

  • Before sowing the bitter gourd crop, the field should be ploughed properly with Farm tractor 60. After this, the land should be levelled.
  • Now make beds about two feet apart.
  • Plant the seeds at a distance of about 1 to 1.5 metres on both sides of the slope of these beds.
  • The seed should be planted about 2 to 2.5 cm deep in the soil.
  • The seeds should be kept in water for a day before sowing. After this, it should be planted after drying in the shade.
  • Sowing of the male crop in the 1/5th part of the field and the female crop in the 4/5th part should be done in different sections.
  • While transplanting bitter gourd saplings in the field, the distance from pit to pit should be 2 metres, plant-to-plant space should be 50 cm, and the hole depth should be 50 cm.

 

Irrigation In Bitter Gourd Cultivation

It requires less irrigation in bitter gourd cultivation, and only moisture should remain in the field. So it should be lightly watered at the flowering and fruit formation time. But remember that there should be no waterlogging in the field. That’s why arrange drainage in the field, so the crop does not get spoiled.

 

Weeding In Bitter Gourd Crop

In the initial stage of bitter gourd crop, weeding is required, and we can use the New Holland 4710 tractor for powering the machines used in weeding. At this time, many unwanted plants grow along with the bitter gourd plant. After weeding the field, these unwanted plants should be removed and thrown away from the crop field. Initially, keeping the field free from weeds gives a good crop of bitter gourd.

Harvesting Process

Bitter gourd crop matures in about 60 or 70 days after planting. Therefore, fruits should be gathered at soft and small stages only. While cutting the fruits, it should be noted that with bitter gourd, the stalk length should be more than 2 cm. This keeps the fruits fresh for longer. Moreover, bitter gourd should always be collected in the morning.

Stay tuned with us for more details about