My dad has a small urban bitter gourd garden on his landed property, where he grows his crops in polystyrene boxes. Recently, a neighbor gave him white bitter melon seeds to try. After a few weeks of care, he successfully grew two white melons, marking a new addition to his garden.
White bitter melons thrive in plenty of sunlight, requiring full exposure to grow well. Though bitter in taste, they are used in various dishes, especially in Asian cuisines, and are prized for their health benefits. However, they do attract insects, so my dad wraps the melons in protective mesh to keep pests away as they grow.
Interestingly, I’ve started seeing these white melons being sold at Jaya Grocer, which shows how locally grown produce can make its way into mainstream markets. My dad’s urban garden, though small, has proven that even limited spaces can yield something special, connecting his hard work with a larger community of food lovers.
