Rima, think about cutting the bottom off a gallon plastic milk jug and using that as a hot cap. The lid should be taken off during the daylight hours. We start bitter melon every year in a heated greenhouse and then the plants are moved to a bed in an unheated hoophouse. Plastic still covers the hoophouse and it gets really warm in there on 75-80 degree days. The covering will come off soon; however, today it still hadn't made it to 50 outdoors by early afternoon. I'm happy that the bitter melon is protected for a few more days and it's happy in there, too. Steve

yes heard they have health benefits for diabetics i used to eat them a lot at one stage can't say as they made a difference one way or the other, i did a little research i think for the health side you need to prepare them different than just using them in the cooking. yes i ahd no doubt the would be many varieties but the green ones go yellow and at that stage as far as i know had maybe different cullinary uses, had a friend who used to eat the seeds of the ripe one. only ever seen green ones for sale in shops a lot bigger than i could ever grow them. len Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page

I cut and pasted from the natural database site, just the basics. This is a medical databae and they are talking about the extracted medical dose not the unprocessed fruit. Probably more than you wanted to know. Human useage: Orally, bitter melon is used to treat diabetes, psoriasis, gastrointestinal upset, ulcers, colitis, constipation, intestinal worms, urinary tract stones (kidney stones), fever, and hepatic disease. It is also used orally to induce menstruation and as supportive therapy for patients with AIDS/HIV. Topically, bitter melon is used for skin abscesses and wounds, and anorectal herpes lesions. Safety ...when used orally and appropriately, short-term. Extracts of bitter melon fruit appear to be safe for up to 3 months There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of bitter melon when used topically. PREGNANCY: LIKELY UNSAFE ...when used orally. Proteins from bitter melon fruit and juice can stimulate menstruation and have caused abortion in animals LACTATION: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using Adverse reactions: Orally, bitter melon is well-tolerated at a dose of 1 gram three times daily (extract dose) for several weeks. In some patients it can cause diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, and epigastric pain. Ingestion of the seeds has been associated with headaches. Two cases of hypoglycemic coma and seizures have occurred in children after drinking bitter melon tea. Elevated liver function tests have been reported in animal studies, but the clinical significance is unknown. Interaction with dieseas: DIABETES: Bitter melon can lower blood glucose levels and might have additive effects when used with antidiabetes drugs. This might increase the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE (G6PD) DEFICIENCY: People with G6PD deficiency are at risk for developing favism after ingesting bitter melon seeds. Vicine found in the seeds is related to constituents of fava beans. Favism is characterized by hemolytic anemia, headache, fever, stomach pain, and coma. Advise these patients to avoid bitter melon. SURGERY: Bitter melon might affect blood glucose levels. Theoretically, bitter melon might interfere with blood glucose control during and after surgical procedures. Tell patients to discontinue bitter melon at least 2 weeks before elective surgical procedures.

Neehadin, the vines in the photo were not fertilized. The soil in that location is very fertile, and beans & soybeans grew in that location previously. Some years I dig a shovel full of composted manure into a hole near the plants, where they can reach it as they grows. Like many vegetables, bitter melon responds well if given space; the plants were 24 inches apart, and filled the trellis completely. This spacing works well for the fertile soil in my country garden, but on poorer soils (such as the land adjacent to my house, where much topsoil was scraped away) the vines were not as rampant, and could be spaced more closely. For them, I will dig in manure this year. Because my growing season is so short, I always start the seeds indoors, as I mentioned above. The seeds germinate in anywhere from 7-14 days. After transplanting, the vines bear green fruit in about 80 days. In longer, warmer climates, the seeds could be planted directly into the ground.