Plant questions

Real questions from home gardeners, the kind people post with a worried photo, answered by GrowPls: what's likely going on, what to do about it, and when to worry.

Showing questions tagged #bitter-gourd · show all

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  bitter gourd

  What is this vining plant with deeply lobed leaves (looks like bitter gourd)?

  From the leaf shape and the thin climbing vines, this looks very much like wild bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), a cucurbit relative of cucumber and pumpkin. Let a few flowers or fruits form to confirm the ID before eating it.

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  bitter gourd

  What is this vine with deeply lobed leaves – is it bitter gourd?

  This looks like a wild/volunteer bitter gourd (bitter melon) vine, a cucurbit with deeply lobed leaves and tendrils. Let a few fruits develop to confirm the ID: they should look like small, warty green gourds that turn orange when ripe.

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