Tropical Vegetable Seeds

Bitter Melon

• Bitter melon, a member of the Curcurbitaceae or gourd family, has long been used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Also known as Chinese bitter melon, pare, arsorossie, karela and mara, the bitter melon is a herbaceous tropical vine. Grown as a tender perennial, the fruit is harvested when green and cooked. The fruit is bumpy with a light greenish-white, waxy skin. The melon contains numerous seeds. Propagated from seed, bitter melon grows best in full sun. Provide organic compost and plenty of water. Protect the tender vines from frost. The majority of tropical vegetable seeds, including bitter melon, should be soaked in warm water overnight prior to planting. Soaking allows moisture to reach the embryo of the seed, starting the germination process.

Alligator Pepper

• Sweet and savory, the alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta), also known as guinea grains, grains of paradise, atar and grani de paradiso, is part of the ginger family (Zingerberaceae). Easy to grow, alligator peppers like lots of sunshine, plenty of water and fertile, well-drained soil. A tropical perennial native to West Africa, alligator pepper reaches 5 feet at maturity and presents purple, trumpet-shaped flowers. The flowers develop into 3- to 5-inch long seedpods that are dark gray in color. Each seed pod contains numerous dark red seeds, prized for their unusual spicy, citrus aroma and pungent pepper flavor. When planting vegetable seeds, keep the seeds moist but not saturated. Seeds that are over watered rot and fail to germinate.

African Eggplant

• African eggplant (Solanum Macrocarpon) is a very tasty tropical vegetable, easily grown from seed. African eggplant, also called terong asam, scarlet eggplant, anthora, antrua and terong kelapa, is a very tender tropical perennial that reaches 2 to 3 feet at maturity. The fruit is green with white markings, very sweet and flavorful.

Water Lemon

• Native to South America, water lemon (Passiflora Laurifolia L.) is an easy-to-grow tropical vine that produces fragrant, white and purple, bell-shaped flowers. The fruit, which resembles a lemon, is orangish-yellow when ripe. The fruit is used in drinks or consumed fresh. Water lemon is grown for its delightful flavor as well as the its potent medical qualities. The leaves and roots are a strong vermifuge (a potion that expels intestinal worms). The seed are a sedative and have a hypnotic effect when ingested in large quantities. It should be planted in full sunshine, in soil that is uniformly moist and well-drained. Water lemon is a very delicate tropical and dies if exposed to temperatures below 40 degrees F.