Karella is taking over the greenhouse

[Squash64]

The seed was given to me by an Indian plot holder.  I think
it needs a greenhouse just for itself.  I didn't realise it would
be quite so rampant!

[Squash64]

[Jayb]

Blimey, and it's got a fair bit of growing to do yet!
It looks like it is loving it's spot squash 

[star]

I havent heard of Karella before, what is it? And how do you use it?

Looks a beast.....

[pigeonseed]

Wow it is doing well!

I love karela. My favourite way is slice thinnish and shallow fry with sprinkle of sugar till it's crispy. Nice side dish with rice.

I hope you get fruit from it. Is any forming yet?

[Squash64]

The fruit are a bit like a very spiny courgette, but taste extremely bitter.
My Indian friends really believe in its medicinal properties and as my husband
doesn't mind bitter things I want to try it out on him.

I took a photo of the tiny thumbnail-size fruit today



The flowers have a lovely scent that I can smell as soon as I go in
the greenhouse.

[George the Pigman]

Congratulations! I have always wanted to grow bitter melon. I have seen them in the Asian shops in Birmingham.
Here is a link about the plant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momordica_charantia

You need to eat the fruits when young otherwise they are bitter. There are recipes on the web about how to cook with it.

[cambourne7]

wow thats grown quite a bit since we were there :) enjoy