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Indian Heirloom White Bitter Gourd Seeds (Karela) – Bitter Melon

Indian Heirloom White Bitter Gourd Seeds (Karela) – Bitter Melon

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White Bitter Gourd · Heirloom · Open-Pollinated · Naturally Grown · Non-GMO · Traditional to India

Indian White Bitter Gourd is the gentle side of karela. Its striking cream-white fruits have the classic bumpy skin but a noticeably milder bitterness, so it's often the one that wins over bitter gourd skeptics. Use it in stir-fries, stuffed karela and Tamil pavakkai pitlai. The vigorous vines produce steadily all summer and look beautiful on a trellis.

Why Grow White Bitter Gourd?

  • Cream-white fruits that stand out in the garden
  • Milder bitterness than green karela
  • Productive vines with continuous harvests
  • Great for stuffing, frying, curries and juice
  • Open-pollinated, so you can save seed every year

Plant Profile

Botanical Name: Momordica charantia

Common Name: White Bitter Gourd, White Karela, White Bitter Melon

Type: Heirloom, open-pollinated

Crop: Gourd vegetable

Fruit Color: Cream to pale white

Plant Habit: Climbing vine, 8–12 ft

Season: Warm season, summer

Sun: Full sun, 6–8+ hours

Days to Harvest: 55–70 days from sowing

Sowing Depth: 1/2–1 in.

Germination: 5–10 days at 75–90°F soil

Harvest: Pick firm, pale white fruits while young, before any yellowing

Garden Use: Trellises, fences, raised beds and large containers

Culinary & Traditional Uses

White bitter gourd cooks like green karela but tastes gentler. Salting the slices for 15 minutes tames it further.

  • Stuffed White Karela: filled with spiced onion and fennel, then pan-roasted
  • Pavakkai Pitlai: Tamil tamarind and lentil gravy
  • Kakarakaya Fry: crisp Andhra-style slices with chili and jaggery
  • Karela Chips: thin slices fried until golden
  • Chinese-style stir-fry with egg or black bean sauce
  • Fresh juice and pickles

How to Grow

Soak the seeds, wait for warm soil and give the vines something to climb.

  1. Soak seeds overnight in warm water to soften the hard coat.
  2. Start indoors in 4 in. pots 3–4 weeks before your last frost, or sow outdoors 2 weeks after your last frost.
  3. Sow 1/2–1 in. deep and plant 18–24 in. apart along a trellis 5–6 ft tall.
  4. Keep soil evenly moist; seedlings appear in 5–10 days in warm conditions.
  5. Feed with compost when flowering begins and mulch to hold moisture.
  6. Harvest every 2–3 days while fruits are firm and pale white.

What NOT To Do

  • Don't plant out while nights are below 55°F
  • Don't let fruits turn yellow; they become soft and the vine slows
  • Don't let soil dry out during flowering
  • Don't let vines sprawl on wet ground

Regional & International Names

  • Hindi: Safed Karela (सफ़ेद करेला)
  • Tamil: Vellai Pavakkai (வெள்ளை பாகற்காய்)
  • Telugu: Tella Kakarakaya (తెల్ల కాకరకాయ)
  • Kannada: Bili Hagalakayi (ಬಿಳಿ ಹಾಗಲಕಾಯಿ)
  • Malayalam: Vella Pavakka (വെള്ള പാവയ്ക്ക)
  • English: White Bitter Melon, White Bitter Gourd
  • Chinese: Bai Ku Gua (白苦瓜)
  • Filipino: Ampalaya

FAQ

Is white bitter gourd less bitter?
Yes, it is generally milder than dark green karela, especially when picked young.

When do I harvest?
Pick while the fruits are firm and creamy white. A yellow tint means they are overripe.

Will it cross with my green karela?
Yes, if grown nearby. For pure seed, grow only one bitter gourd variety or hand-pollinate and bag flowers.

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