Bitter Gourd

Water

Rain is enough, even in a dry year.

Needs about 360 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 740 mm it can use in a normal year, and 570 mm in a dry year.

Heavy rain here can waterlog it. Grow it on raised beds or land that drains well.

Temperature

Grows best at 22–30 °C on average, and survives 15–38 °C.

Here, in its growing months (day / night):

• Jul 32 °C / 26 °C
• Aug 32 °C / 26 °C
• Sep 32 °C / 26 °C
• Oct 31 °C / 24 °C

Soil

Soil for Bitter Gourd: 7 out of 10 (okay).

• Soil here is often more acidic than it likes.
• Many fields here are short of nitrogen, which it needs a lot.
• Many fields here are short of potassium, which it needs a lot.
• Most fields here are short of phosphorus.

Likes pH 6.0–6.5.

Money

Yield: about 40 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (its government crop records list none for your district).

Mandi price at last season's harvest (December 2025): about ₹4,000 a quintal at mandis in your district.

This week: about ₹2,100 a quintal, the middle of 3 mandis in your district (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹15,000 a season after typical costs.

Prices are usually best in August.

Typical costs are about ₹69,000 an acre: about half of what a usual harvest earns (2023–2025), as in farm cost surveys. They are spent whatever the harvest.