Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

The typhoon at the beginning of the month destroyed these Goya plants and all the fruit dropped. About a week later I could see the seeds on top of the soil start to grow roots, so was expecting this. I added some fertilizer and Goya plant food and these new plants look super healthy.

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

As I mention often I no longer plant Goya seeds, but rather they grow on their own. In the past few months Abashi Goya plants have been growing, but by the time I go to pick them they turn yellow and explode. This particular vine is the Mikaji Goya verity. I find more success with this particular verity.

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

The self seeded Goya plants in my back yard garden is producing a lot of fruit, so I decided to start giving them away. My neighbors seem sincerely pleased. 

They are handing like this all over my Dragon Fruit plant.

 

Bitter Melon (Goya,Nigauri)

I've never tracked precisely how long it takes a Goya to mature, so will start tracking this tiny Goya. It is about 4-5 days old.

(09/01)

(09/09)

(09/15)

Bitter Melon (Goya,Nigauri)

These Goya are ready to pick anytime.

(08/28)

This Goya is from the picture above. It was getting pretty large and decided to pick it on 6 September. I found a few more small Goya, so believe this plant will be quite productive this year.

Bitter Melon (Goya,Nigauri)

These Goya are growing in the back around the Dragon Fruit plant. They are self seeding and have been growing back for the past 2-3 years. The Goya I have in planters keep exploding, but these do not. I suspect they can grow deep roots and not affected by the lack of water like the plants in the planters.

Another Goya.

This Goya is hanging from the Dragon Fruit. It used the Dragon Fruit like a trellis.  

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

 

My Bitter Melon (Goya) plant is not doing great and still recovering from the last typhoon, but got a few nice Goya this year.

This Goya is growing on the side of my AC unit.

I planted a few seeds of my favorite Goya a couple weeks ago and they are starting to sprout (bottom left).

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

My Goya plants have not been doing so well, but I have gotten a few nice fruit.

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

My Goya plant recently started to grow and it has taken off.

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

 

Today in May 8th, which makes it Goya day in Japan. Note that May is the fifth month. In Japanese, the number five is pronounced "Go" and one way to pronounce eight is "Ya". 

Anyway, these are Goya that again grew on their own. I do not have to plant them anymore, but do prefer the particular type that sprouted this year. These are dark green, long and thin. The other type are a lighter color, shorter and rounder. The taste is the same, but the texture is different. The rounder one's are softer and a little less bitter, but they tend to mature faster. So if I miss to pick them at the wrong time they will ripen and explode on the vine. They must be picked at the hint of any color change that day. 

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

This Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) plant is growing well, but I did miss a Goya and it exploded. I need to keep an eye on this verity, because once they get a certain size and they are not picked they start to turn yellow and explode.

Also, I found a lot of aphids on this plant, which I'm battling; however, I'm keeping them under control and they are not damaging the plant much.

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

(10/5) My Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) is doing well.

 

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

(8/30) The Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) plants are growing well and starting to climb and flower.

 

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

 

(8/19) So many Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) seeds sprouted the entire container was green, so I had to trim them down to just four plants. I was originally thinking to keep just two, but this container is deep and think it can support four if properly feed. I'll keep you posted.

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

(8/11) These Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) plants are growing well. More plants have sprouted than seeds planted. I reused some of the soil from the old planter and suspect seeds from dropped fruit made the transfer. I will have to thin them out.

 

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

(8/4) The Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) plant on my second floor balcony was getting pretty messy with lots of rotten vines and fruit, so I decided to remove it all. I replaced the planter with a deeper planter, added new soil and planted new seeds.

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

 

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

(6/21) I was working in the back of the house and found this huge Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) sitting on the top of my planter. 

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) Verities

For the past few years all my Goya plants have self seeded and grown on their own, but I did start with two Goya verities, Abashi (left) and Mikaji (right). The Abashi verity is softer and a little less bitter, but it does not last long on the vine.  

Abashi Goya are more round with larger and softer looking bumps compared to the Mikaji Goya. 

This Abashi Goya exploded and fell. It happens quickly. Sometimes you will notice it starting to turn yellow and it breaks open, while other times it happens in a matter of a day. 

Goya seeds are normally white when eaten as a vegetable. The gel that covers the seed coat has not developed and still a spongy white material, but when they reach the fruit stage (yellow) a red gel forms around the seed to protect it in the digestive track of animals when eaten. This red gel is eatable and has a sweet taste.

These Mikaji Goya are easier to grow to a decent size. These particular Goya are around 21 cm (8 inches) are could probably grow another 5-10 cm with no problem.

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

(27 May) Getting a lot of quality Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) fruit this season.

(5/30)

(5/31) I picked the right one. It was 21 cm (8 in) long and weighted 278 grams (10 oz).

(5/30)