Bitter gourd green - ఆకుపచ్చ కాకరకాయ | Karela | Kathilla | Poraru (Hindi) | Pavvakkai/Iracavalli (Tamil) | Haagalakaay (Kannada).

Bitter gourd juice contains a train of important nutrients ranging from iron, magnesium and vitamin to potassium and vitamin C. An excellent source of dietary fibre, it also contains twice the calcium of spinach,beta- carotene and the potassium of a banana.

HARVEST: Harvest it about 12 to 16 weeks after planting and 8 to 10 days after blossom drop when the fruits are 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) long. The fruits will be a bit pear shaped, with light green skin and a few streaks of yellow. If fruits stay too long on the vine they will over-ripen, turn all yellow, grow too large, and become bitter. Fruits on the same vine can vary in their degrees of bitterness—melons both immature and overripe can taste very bitter.