{"product_id":"balsam-apple-bitter-melon","title":"Balsam Apple (Bitter Melon)","description":"\u003cp\u003eBalsam Apple is a Bitter Melon relative with tiny pointed fruit that are edible when young and green, but that cause vomiting when ripe and orange. The bright red seed coat is sweet and textured like tapioca. In Cameroon, Sudan, and southern Africa the young fruit and leaves are cooked as a vegetable. This plant (\u003cem\u003eMomordica balsamina\u003c\/em\u003e) has numerous medicinal uses, and in 19th century texts it is described alongside the more common bitter melon (\u003cem\u003eMomordica charantia\u003c\/em\u003e), and both listed as Cerasee, an important healing vegetable in Jamaica. This plant is from tropical Africa and was also introduced to Asia where it is used to treat wounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 120\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 91% on 05\/12\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirect sow outdoors after the last threat of frost has passed, or get a head start and sow indoors a couple weeks beforehand. For better germination, soak seeds overnight before planting. The plant will use as much trellising as you give it!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeeds are ripe when the fruits turn a fiery orange-red. If you wait too long to harvest, they will pop open and drop their seeds, which are covered in a sweet, red gel. Remove the seed coat and dry the seeds in a well ventilated place away from direct sunlight. I have found that smooshing the seeds in a cloth bag will help remove the seed coat more efficiently.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":899361603597,"sku":"MOM-001","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/balsamappleripefruit.JPG?v=1571609431","url":"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/products\/balsam-apple-bitter-melon","provider":"Truelove Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}