My Bitter Gourd Planting Journey on the Terrace

A few weeks ago, I shared my excitement about the newly sprouted pumpkin plants in my terrace garden. Continuing this green journey, I am happy to update you about the latest addition to my grow bag family—bitter gourd plants!

I had an 18×18 inch grow bag lying empty for a while. It had been on my mind to sow something new, but time didn't allow me to visit the market to buy seeds. Finally, two weeks ago, I managed to purchase seeds for both cucumber and bitter gourd. I soaked them overnight in water to give them a better chance at germination.

The following evening, I filled two of my grow bags with soil and sowed the seeds. Nature worked its magic, and after nearly 10 days, the bitter gourd seeds began to sprout. Out of the many seeds I sowed, five germinated successfully and started growing into healthy little plants.

These photos, although a week old, show their vibrant early growth. While I was thrilled to see all five seedlings growing strong, one plant unfortunately turned yellow and dried up as the days passed. Now, I have four bitter gourd plants that are healthy and actively growing. Whether they survive until fruit-bearing is still a question, as I’ve experienced some earlier disappointments with other plants unexpectedly drying out without an identifiable reason.

All four of my grow bags are now occupied—each nurturing a different crop: pumpkin, cucumber, bitter gourd, and gourd. While the pumpkin plants are the oldest with long, thriving creepers, the bitter gourd plants are catching up fast. In just three weeks, they’ve grown impressively long creepers.

I've placed all my grow bags in a semi-shaded area to avoid the intense summer heat of May. This spot receives sunlight only for a few hours, just enough to keep the plants healthy without drying them out. Despite all precautions, it's still disheartening when one plant suddenly turns yellow or dies, and I’m still trying to uncover the cause.

For now, I’m happy with the progress. The bitter gourd and cucumber plants, though sown later, are growing fast and strong. Watching these little greens thrive gives me a sense of joy and fulfillment. Gardening is indeed a mix of patience, effort, and hope.

I’m eagerly waiting for the first sign of fruit—it will be the ultimate reward for all the hard work and care. Let’s hope for the best! I’ll continue to share updates on the journey of my terrace plants as they grow and flourish.