Topic: Need Seed ID

[clumsy]

I've got these seeds from another plot holder but have no idea what plant they belong to. The only info was that they belong to some sort of squash I think. The seeds come from india. I was wondering if any body knew what they belong to to.

[amphibian]

momordica charantia which goes by many names in different parts of the world. It's in the Curcurbitaceae family treat pretty much like a cucumber. In the south you can grow it up a trellis outside it reaches 3m or so. Further north it'll probably need some protection.

You cook the fruit when they're still green between 50-90 days from planting out.

It's a very widely used vegetable globally, so there are lots of recipes out there if you do your research.

[galina]

Thank you amphibian.  This one had me foxed and the google of bitter melon or momordica charantia was very interesting, especially the pictures.   

They look similar to achocha seeds, but achocha seeds are black.

Squash64, was that the ugly, warty 'cucurbit' you grew one year? 

Good luck with it clumsy.  Would love to know how it grows/tastes.   

[Squash64]

This was the 'thing' I grew the year before last.  It attracted a lot of attention on the site, but
despite my attempts at trying to give it away, nobody would try it!

[Digeroo]

They sell things like that in Asian supermarkets in Swindon.  Somebody must want them.

[clumsy]

amphibian thankyou wow how did you find the information just by looking at the seeds. Will try to grow it.

[Silverleaf]

This was the 'thing' I grew the year before last.  It attracted a lot of attention on the site, but
despite my attempts at trying to give it away, nobody would try it!

Did you taste it? I'm intrigued!

[Squash64]

Did you taste it? I'm intrigued!

I think I may have waited too long to pick it because when we came to cut it open we
almost needed a chainsaw.  It was rock-hard.  My husband said it didn't taste of anything,
but that could have been because we didn't pick it at the right time.

It's an interesting plant to grow, but most people thought it had a disease!

[galina]

Did you taste it? I'm intrigued!

I think I may have waited too long to pick it because when we came to cut it open we
almost needed a chainsaw.  It was rock-hard.  My husband said it didn't taste of anything,
but that could have been because we didn't pick it at the right time.

It's an interesting plant to grow, but most people thought it had a disease!

Can you remember what the seeds looked like, by any chance?

[Squash64]

Can you remember what the seeds looked like, by any chance?
[/quote]

I think it was similar to the ones in clumsy's photo but I can't be 100% sure.

[alkanet]

you could always tell when the Pakistani guy that worked with me had had bitter gourd curry the night before, he had a face as long as a fiddle. He was not keen on it. And he knew he'd be having the leftovers the next night

supposed to be of some benefit for his Dad's type 1 diabetes

[clumsy]

Squash64 I just found the name of your bitter gourd Verruqueux de Maurice I think.

[galina]

Squash64 I just found the name of your bitter gourd Verruqueux de Maurice I think.

Does look like it, doesn't it.  a decorative bottle gourd     I think you finally got your answer, Squash.   

[Squash64]

That's brilliant clumsy, thank you so much!

The man who gave me the seed is from Mauritius, and the name translates as
'warty from Mauritius' (thanks to Google!) so mystery solved!
(or even Mauritian verruccas, which sounds even worse!)

No wonder nobody wanted to eat it.

I found another photo of them while they were growing.