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Post by glen on Aug 26, 2015 17:55:39 GMT -6
We picked a record 22 bittermelon today. They are in a big stack on the counter. Soon they will be sliced long ways, deseeded and chopped up and put in the freezer. I have also been seed saving. I have several hundred choice seeds saved. Very easy. My july planting which was in a 4 gallon bucket, is already putting on fruits. It is side by side with some cucumbers planted the same way on the same day and we picked 3 beautiful cukes today. Oh, this year, I am not seeing pests at all on the bittermelon. Nothing is bothering it. Not even the dreaded black bucket loader bugs. I don't even think the cows will eat bittermelon. Nor the horses. Nor, most humans for that matter. Too darn bitter. I just love em myself. I think bittermelon is easier to grow than okra.
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Post by glen on Sept 25, 2015 9:18:54 GMT -6
Its been awhile since I posted on this thread. My bittermelon is still producing large quantity's of fruits. We are sort of Bittermeloned out for the time being. Many are turning yellow on the vine. The vines are huge, don't seem tired and continously putting on blooms. I haven't weeded them or taken any special care of them in a long time. I would say the vines are at least 5 months old and they will probably survive a few more. As far as vining plants go, they are far and away longer lived and easier to care for than cucumbers or pole beans or just about anything else I grow in the garden. No pests, no desease. I even planted some in pots. I planted some in a different location and didn't even prepare the ground. They are doing well also. Bittermelon is pretty much bullet proof. The smell of the vines acts as a deterent to just about everything. Even hungry people. If I wanted to I could take the time to keep them harvested and I could give them away easily to the Chinese community that lives here. Panamanians won't eat em. No way. Culturally impossible. I have also been saving seed. I have several hundred, probably more. They will go in the freezer. Oh, this cloudy, hazy weather that has plagued me since May in no way negatively affects bittermelon. In sunny weather, the leaves are smaller. In hazy weather, the leaves just get bigger. They just adjust fire and drive on. Amazing plant.
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Post by glen on Oct 11, 2015 16:14:59 GMT -6
It is Oct 11 and we are still getting tons of bittermelon. I just came out of the garden and to my dismay I saw quite a few fruits on the may planting. I have plants started from seed from the May planting that are now beginning to put on quite a few fruits. I picked several today from the latest planting that were quite large. The May planting must have 10 or more, you can't even see em all. We had a significant rain today and it is still raining, the first in many months. Oct and Nov is supposed to be our big rain months. At any rate, I am amazed at how long the bittermelon thrives and produces fruits here. Amazed. This plant requires the least amount of work and maintenance of any vining type plant I have ever grown. Seriously grows like a weed.
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Post by glen on Oct 19, 2015 12:36:28 GMT -6
Yesterday I was able to pick at least 10 more lbs of bittermelon. The largest fruits are coming from the youngest planting. I picked at least 4 that were absolutely monsters and wieghed at least 1 lb each. This particular planting was in normal panamanian dirt, no soil amendments were applied and only a few tablespoons of good fertilizer was added as a side dressing. I have noticed that when you first plant bittermelon, you don't need much fertilizer. However, once the female flowers start to form a fruit, that is when the plant needs a little help. Fertilize then and the fruits will form quickly. If you don't, the little fruits will form slowly. I have been making a lot of bittermelon juice lately using the blender. And, I have been drinking a lot of it. My favorite way to flavor the juice is to add lemon juice. We happen to have access to free lemons when they are around, which they are now a days. Oh, the smaller fruits are just as good as the larger ones. It not important. You just want to pick the fruits when they are bright green. You get the feel for when they are ready by growing this plant and getting the feel of it. Once the brightness turns and the fruit begins to turn a dull color you gotta pick now. Once they begin to turn yellow its up to you whether you want to eat it or not. Its not harmfull to eat this fruit any any stage. Green or yellow. However, once the fruits turn yellow they begin to ferment and turn sweet. If you juice this yellow fruit you need to drink it that same day. It will continue to ferment in the fridge. I don't care for the taste myself. Of course, this veggy can also be used as in the kitchen as a veggy and it is impressive nutricionally. I don't use it like that but I would in a food emergency situation. No doubt about it. This veggy is extremely dependable, nutritional, and has a long harvest season. Long. Its a keeper in the garden.
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Post by glen on Oct 19, 2015 12:41:38 GMT -6
Oh, I have sent Ron some of the seed in the mail. Not many. But, enough for him to grow a nice fence full next season. If it makes it to him, which I got my fingers crossed, it'll be interesting to see how this Chinese variety acclimates to the OK climate. I am really excited to hear from him after he gets it planted. I think he is going to do a great job and have hundreds of seeds to share. He will also be trialing a hindu variety. Hindu variety's usually have a spikey appearance. Chinese variety's usually have a mottled but smoother skin appearance but the shape of a cucumber. The Hindu variety's are supposed to be more bitter. Again, I am excited that he will be trialing both variety's.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Jun 22, 2016 16:31:00 GMT -6
Glen,
Today is June 22, 2016. If you are still keeping this post, I have a few questions. When making bitter tea from the fresh, green leaves, how many leaves should I use, and how much water should I put with them?
How long do I boil it?
How long do I seep it?
Does it store in the refrigerator if I make it ahead of time?
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Post by glen on Jun 22, 2016 17:26:47 GMT -6
Ron, you are going to have to experiment with you tea récipes. I make it strong. Boil as much wáter as you want in a pot. Throw in a bunch of leaves. You want to make it as strong as you can make it and still drink it. For about a liter I would throw in 10 or 20 leaves depending on how big the leaves are. Boil it for a couple of minutes than take it off the heat and let it cool down. Drink it hot or cold. I drink it cold. Once it cools down enough, mix in some lemon juice. You can mix in honey if you want. Or, boil other herbs with it. It's your personal récipe. Its bitter. I prefer to use the fruits and the fruits are stronger also. Cut the fruits down the middle, long ways. Scoop out the seed. Cut into chunks. Use the blender. Use some wáter, then put in the chunks and puree. Make it strong. Use more wáter if you want to. Once its pureed, strain the solids out. Put into a pitcher. Mix in lemon juice or whatever you need to put in the mixture to make it easier to swallow. Get it cold. Drink it fast. The fruit juice is by far, better than the leaves. But, do not underestimate the healthy benefits of tea made from the leaves. Drink both. This will improve your health. You can drink it anytime. Drink this juice in the morning as an orange juice replacement if you want. Drink it in the evening also. Whenever. Its very good for you. This stuff will improve your gut health. That is the first thing you will notice. Yes, it stores in the fridge for a few days. The juice will ferment if kept too long. I throw it away if I notice this. Keeps for about 3 days.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Jun 22, 2016 17:36:00 GMT -6
Thanks Glen,
It will be a month or so probably, before I get any fruit? Just guessing?
My vines are about 2' feet tall right now, so I am planning on picking a few leaves in the morning when they perk back up. It was 96 degrees today, with a pretty stiff South wind, so they look a little too wilted to stress them with any leaf picking this evening.
I'm looking forward to trying the tea.
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Post by glen on Jun 22, 2016 20:52:07 GMT -6
Ron, there is no telling how long it will take to start seeing fruits. You just need to grow it to know it. Bittermelon seems to start out slow. But, once it kicks in you gotto get out of its way. Everything is going to depend on your conditions which have been rotten this year. You know, how much sun, temperaturas, etc. I consider the bittermelon to be the King of the trellis. It is just going to go and go and it will get big. You got it in good soil also so you should see huge fruits, maybe a lb or more. Save seed from those big fruits. You can freeze the seed also. Save a lot of seed cause people will want it at the seed swaps. This is a valuable veggy since it is medicinal. You got 2 variety's. I am anxious to hear your report on the hindu variety you have also. Both are good. I have Heard that the hindu variety's are even more bitter. Supposedly the more bitter, the better medicine it is. If you are consistently consuming this stuff you shouldn't get sick with colds. It really builds you up. Fortify's you so to speak against common illnesses like colds etc. I personally believe that the fruits are the most valuable part of the plant but some folks really like to drink the tea as well. Use it both.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Jun 22, 2016 21:57:00 GMT -6
Hopefully, tomorrow will be the day I get my first leaves. I hope they have time to recuperate tonight? Tomorrow is also supposed to be 96 degrees and windy. I might have to give them a couple more days to get their strength back from the heat and wind today?
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Jul 3, 2016 20:41:49 GMT -6
Glen,
This rain, and the heat, have finally gotten together to make my bitter melon vines begin to bolt. One vine has two blossoms opened today.
I've been drinking tea made of two cups of water, and five bitter melon leaves, each day for the past seven days. That's 35 leaves per week.
Good, mature, leaves were starting to get scarce, before the heavy rains finally came. I think it's helping me feel better. It's kind of too soon to tell, but I do know I've not been feeling worse.
It seems to clear my nose and make me feel like I can breath better. I feel more energetic as well.
Funny, how just a week ago, I had never tried this, and had even approached it with some reservation, but now, I'm just afraid that I might not have enough to make it through the Winter.
Hopefully, it will out run my 35 leaf per week diet soon, and eventually get out ahead of me until I can't possibly use it all.
I already have a neighbor who wants to try it for his Type II diabetes. So, I really want to hook him up with some leaves and eventually some fruit as well.
Thanks, Glen for introducing me to this (new to me) medicinal plant.
I've been gathering Sheep Sorrel (the kind with leaves that look like a sheep's head) not the kind that looks like a shamrock. This is good to relieve inflammation, since I am allergic to Naproxen and Ibuprofen both, Sheep Sorrel is all I can use. It really does work, and within only a few moments after ingesting the leaves. I've been dehydrating the leaves of the Sheep Sorrel for a Winter tea.
I need to get busy and gather some elderberry blossoms too.
I am growing rabbit tobacco ( Pseudognaphlium obtusifolium ) not the Mullen that some people wrongfully call rabbit tobacco. The Pseudognaphlium obtusifolium, has leaves that grow up the central stem at obtuse angles, neither 90 degrees, nor 180 degrees from one another, hence the name, "obtusifolium" with means obtuse foliage. It is silvery on the top side of the leaf when dried, and dark brown, to almost black, on the underside. This makes it easy to spot in Winter.
Pseudognaphlium obtusifolium makes an excellent tea for Winter colds and flu. It is warming, soothing, and helps promote easier breathing.
Among this selection of herbs, I hope to amass an arsenal of Asthma fighting agents this Winter.
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Post by glen on Jul 3, 2016 20:57:05 GMT -6
Ron, that is good news. Just be advised that there are many medicinal plants out there. Keep an open mind and use them if you can if you hear about them. Especially if you can grow it yourself. Now, maybe you will try growing different medicinal herbs. Oh, don't be discouraged if a few blossom's fall off the vines. That happens when the vines are young. Once the vines begin to produce you will have more and more, until you have to begin giving it away. Don't forget to save seed from some of your bigger fruits. Let em ripen yellow and pick em if they look like they are going to split open. You don't want to lose any of the seed. You will notice that the seeds are covered with a red jelly like coating. Lots of people suck the red stuff off the seeds and spit the seed out. Save the seed. Seed covering is sweet and highly nutritious.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Jul 4, 2016 15:36:01 GMT -6
Right now, I am growing bitter melon, rabbit tobacco, and sheep sorrel in my garden as medicinal plants. I also keep a sassafras tree handy, for it's roots.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Jul 6, 2016 11:11:23 GMT -6
I side dressed the bitter melon with chicken litter last week when I knew for sure we were getting lots of rain and the litter wouldn't burn them in dry weather.
After that, they went from 3' feet tall, to 6' feet tall over the weekend. Last week, I was almost out of leaves from picking 5 each day for 7 days to make tea. This morning I had so many leaves, I picked 6 for my morning tea, just because I could.
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Post by glen on Jul 6, 2016 14:56:37 GMT -6
I have volunteer bittermelon growing all over the place on one side of the yard. They are climbing all over the fence now and even putting on fruits. I will be cutting it down with the weed wacker very soon also. Once this stuff gets entrenched it is just like a weed. I don't need more bittermelon. I need more bittermelon users. Its just coming out of my ears. I have a big bag of bittermelon seed in the freezer and I haven't even opened it. I don't need it. Once you got it you will have it forever. Like it or not. Luckily its easy to get addicted to. Try it.
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