Arka Harit
An ICAR-IIHR (Bengaluru) open-pollinated variety with spindle-shaped, glossy green fruit carrying smooth, regular tubercles and low seed content — popular in the south for its attractive, uniform fruit.
Quick facts
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Zaid / summer
- Maturity period
- First pick ~60–65 days
- Expected yield
- 11–13 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Release
- Released by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru
About this variety
Arka Harit is an open-pollinated bitter gourd from ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru. Its fruit is spindle-shaped, glossy green and about 12 cm, with smooth, regular tubercles and a low seed content that gives a good flesh-to-seed ratio. The attractive, uniform fruit sells well in the southern fresh market. It is well suited to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu conditions, and being open-pollinated it lets growers save their own seed.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First pick ~60–65 days
Expected yield
11–13 t/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
- No special resistance claimed
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Attractive, uniform, spindle-shaped glossy green fruit with smooth tubercles
- Low seed content — good flesh-to-seed ratio
- Well adapted to southern plains conditions; open-pollinated, so seed can be saved
Things to consider
- No special disease resistance — manage the melon fruit fly and mildews
- Yields below the hybrids on a commercial bower crop
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu