Cucumber

Karela or Bitter gourd is a vining plant that grows much like cucumbers or melons in the  hot summer sun. White Bitter melon is easily recognized by its bumpy, warty oblong-shaped skin, giving the initial appearance of a malformed white cucumber. Even its flesh can be misleading, bearing a spongy seed cavity looking more similar to that of a cucumber than of a melon. Unlike other  melons, Bitter melons do not require peeling.

The fruit’s flesh is pale green to white in color and  contains layers of flat white seeds which will turn red as the fruit matures. The bitterness in the  melon is about the only flavor that the melon delivers. This bitterness is not a uniform bitterness  and can range from fruit to fruit. Generally, the younger the fruit, the more bitter. Large, riper  fruit will be more mellow and the flesh will become spongy. 

The red radishes pack quite a punch when it comes to flavor and nutrition. In fact, since the ancient times the radish has been known to have many health benefits. The pungency in radishes can be attributed to isothiocyanate which is very intense in red radishes.

The radish plant has a short hairy stem and a rosette of oblong shaped leaves. The top leaves of the plant are smaller and lance-like. The taproot of the plant is cylindrical or tapering and commonly red or white in color. Red radish are rich in antioxidants such as sulforaphane and Vitamin C. 

Ridgegourd seeds are black in colour and easy to grow. Ridge Gourd is a vigorously growing climbing vine with thick green leaves and fleshy long fruits with tough skin and ridges. The vine is almost free from pest attacks and diseases. It can be grown in the ground or in a container with a trellis/net/wall for it to climb on.

The fruit is 15-17″ long and even in width. Also known as Chinese okra, it  is a versatile vegetable. It is a dark green, ridged and tapering, pretty vegetable. It has white pulp with white seeds embedded in spongy flesh. A ridge gourd also commonly known as Turai or Turiya is beloved in India. Its hard skin is peeled off and chopped and cooked as desired.