Karela (Indian Bitter Gourd) Seeds
Grow fresh karela for stuffed sabzi, stir-fries, and traditional bitter gourd dishes.
Easy Grow Info
About Karela (Bitter Gourd)
Karela, also known as bitter gourd or bitter melon, is a warm-season climbing vegetable prized for its bold, unmistakable bitterness. Widely used across Indian kitchens, the ridged green fruits are typically harvested young and cooked into karela sabzi, stuffed preparations, and slow sautéed dishes where spices balance and deepen the flavor.
This India-type hybrid is selected for consistent fruit shape, good productivity, and strong performance in hot weather. Vigorous vines climb quickly when given support, producing steadily through summer heat.
Why We Grow It
We grow karela because it’s a traditional vegetable that truly belongs in hot-season gardens. In California’s warm summers, the vines thrive when trellised, rewarding growers with steady harvests of fresh bitter gourds for home-style cooking.
Grower’s Corner
Grower’s Corner: How to Grow Bitter Gourd in Warm-Climate Gardens
Read the full guide on Grower’s Corner.