Those are hybrids.

I am revisiting this thread, because for several years I have been trying to de-hybridize one of the bitter melons that was originally posted above. The process has gone well, and I will be growing it again this year.

However, the original bitter melon photos that I posted above have disappeared, so I don't know whether the one I am growing is Jiang Meng Da Ding or Yu Feng You Lu. The new photo is posted below - can someone translate?

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This is a photo of the last crop. I have been selecting for length & yield. Many of these bitter melons were 10-12 inches long.
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Zeedmsn,

Curious as where you bought the seeds as the pack seem to be authentic Chinese? As far as the translation, it'll cost you a few seeds for next year :D, he he...

The top of the pic, right hand side of the seed pack is the brand name, Wu Feng You (first 3 characters)followed by the description "green bitter melon".

The right hand side of the pic, bottom of the seed pack says "Hybridized by the bitter melon agriculture organization specialist of Wu Shan"

The bottom of the pic, left hand side of the pack:
Big Fruit, Productive, and if you eat it will protect your health.

Traditional Chinese will say that the bitter melon will reduce your inside heat (opposite of chili pepper) and help remove poisons from your body.

Good luck Zeedman, hope our crazy WI weather this year cooperates.

John

Darn, I was hoping this bitter melon had a variety name. I have been working for several years to de-hybridize it, and had planned to share seed under a modification of its original name.

The seeds were sent to me several years ago by a trader in the S.F. Bay area, along with another bitter melon which I have yet to grow (it has short, top-shaped fruit), and several Chinese edible gourds. It was a good trade.

And John, as a fellow Wisconsinite, you are more than welcome to some seed. :-) Just contact me through the email link on my Member Page.

Just an update, and a question. I have been growing & selecting the bitter melon in the photo every year since the original post, and it appears to now be stable. In the process, it appears to have become better adapted to my climate, and the seed germination rate has improved - over 90% this year. If this year's crop is uniform, I intend to offer seed... but re-reading this post, the name is translated as both "Yu Feng You Lu" and "Wu Feng You". I'm wondering which one is correct? I'll probably share it as the original name followed by "OP", or maybe "Badger strain".

This year I've begun the process of de-hybridizing the second bitter melon, "Jiang Meng Da Ding", which has short top-shaped fruit.

Hi zeedman:

The picture is a bit fuzzy to me, especially the first character (五 or 玉)

五丰油绿苦瓜 (Wu Feng You green bitter melon)

五 (Wu) = five, 丰 (Feng) = good harvest, 油 (You) = oil, 绿(Luu) = green, 苦(Ku)=bitter, 瓜(Gua)=melon

To me it looks more like 玉丰油绿苦瓜 (Yu Feng You green bitter melon)

玉 (Yu) = jade, 丰 (Feng) =good harvest, 油 (You) = oil, 绿(Luu) = green, 苦(Ku)=bitter, 瓜(Gua)=melon?