How long is the ampalaya plant lifespan? Ampalaya or bitter gourd produces fruits that taste bitter but even though it has a bitter taste, it is rich in vitamins and minerals that are good for the body. Ampalaya is a kind of vine that crawls. You need to make a trellis so that they have something to crawl on. It will be good for them to grow on a trellis rather than on the soil and you will see the fruits much easier and more comfortable to harvest.
Ampalaya Plant Lifespan (Bitter Gourd)
The ampalaya plant lifespan is around 150 to 180 days (5-6 months). This plant has a short life expectancy and it’s normal for this kind of plant. Small size plants usually don’t live too long compared to trees. Trees normally live for a couple of years before they stop growing. But even if the ampalaya plant (bitter gourd) has a short lifespan, you will still get more fruits from the plant. All you need to do is to care for the ampalaya plant while it’s growing and it will produce excellent fruits.
The ampalaya is commonly grown from seeds. The seeds are brown, a little bit bigger, and hard. When the seeds are sown in the soil, they will germinate for around 5 to 10 days. Few roots, few leaves, and a stem will grow once the seeds are germinated. It will appear on the soil and the plant’s journey has started. Germinating ampalaya seeds is easy to do.
How To Prolong The Lifespan Of Ampalaya (Bitter Gourd)?
In order for the ampalaya plant to have a better lifespan, it must stay healthy. The plant has needs and when they get it regularly it will thrive well. Aside from needs it also needs protection from the pests and diseases that might attack it. So here are some things to do to help the plant have a good lifespan.
Keep the ampalaya plant well watered
Water is essential for the growth of ampalaya plants. You need to keep them hydrated by giving them regular water. For you to know the right timing and right day to give water to your plant, you must check the soil moisture first. If you can differentiate the dry soil from the moist soil quickly then it will be easier for you to water your ampalaya plant.
There are also some ways you can do to make sure that the soil is dry or moist. Using your index finger, press it on the soil 2 to 3 inches deep. If you feel that the soil is dry you need to water your plant. Just give them the right amount of water according to their size.
Young ampalaya plants only need a little water for them to grow and more for mature and bigger plants. When the weather is hot, the soil dries up faster and you likely need to water the plants almost every day, especially during summer. Also, keep ampalaya planting distance around 12 to 15 inches per plant so that they will grow well.
Make sure the plant gets enough sunlight
The sunlight requirement for the ampalaya plant is at least 6 hours. The sunlight will help the plant make their food and you need to make sure they are planted in a spot where sunlight is available.
When they get more sunlight they will grow faster and will likely produce more flowers and fruits. Avoid growing them in a place where there are big trees nearby because they might block the sunlight away from your plant.
Give enough nutrients by applying fertilizer
Applying fertilizer to ampalaya (bitter gourd) is essential for them to thrive well, and produce flowers and fruits. There are fertilizers that you can use like 14-14-14, 5-10-10, etc. It depends upon the varieties also on which fertilizer to use. You can apply fertilizer during the early spring and summer and don’t apply fertilizer when the ampalaya plant is blooming.
Also if you don’t like chemical fertilizer you can use organic fertilizer for your ampalaya (bitter gourd) plant. It’s great because it has no chemicals and is safe for humans and animals.
Harvesting period
When to harvest ampalaya (bitter gourd)? The fruits may appear around 2 to 3 months (60 to 90 days). You can get more ampalaya fruit per plant as long as they are growing well.
It will be a bountiful harvest to come when there are no experiencing problems with the plant. You can consume those fruits and make your recipes and cook them. It will be great to cook them and mix some eggs.
Pests and diseases control
In order for the ampalaya plant to stay healthy and have a longer lifespan, pests and diseases must be controlled. If there are pests that are attacking the plant, you can use pesticides to get rid of them.
For diseases, you can use fungicides as a treatment. By controlling pests and diseases you can keep the plant healthy for a few months and it will give you more fruits.
It is great to know how long is ampalaya plant lifespan (bitter gourd). The ampalaya is a vine-type vegetable and it doesn’t live long. It will only grow for a few months and it will slow its growth until they dry up. The ampalaya growth stages will be completed from the seeds until they stop growing. You will get more ampalaya on the plants when the plants grow well.
