Fluorescent
ORFull Sun
Very High
Irrigation: Mature plants are highly drought resistant but may
require water during dry periods when soil moisture is depleted to the point
where wilting occurs.
Nutrition: A side dressing of NPK and dolomite before planting will
promote early growth on soils that are marginally fertile, otherwise fertiliser
is rarely necessary unless the soil is completely deficient in nutrients.
Harvest: The inflated and ripened outer fleshy casings (calyces) should be
ready for harvest 20 days after flowering. The inside seedpod should be still
green when fruit is picked, although fruit can remain on the plant until the
pods mature and seeds disperse. A yield of 1.5 kg of calyces per plant can
be obtained (approx 8 t/ha). Young shoots and leaves can be eaten raw or
cooked as a vegetable and are harvested when required. Yield for leaves,
is about 10 t/ha.
Post Harvest: Store fresh at 7-10?C at a humidity of 90–95%.
Pests and Diseases: Root-knot nematodes, caterpillars, leaf spot
(Cercospora sp), and black spot.
Ground Preparation: Soil should be deep ripped and formed into
wide beds.
A green manure crop grown and turned in before planting is
beneficial.
Seed can be broadcast onto beds and thinned to 60–80 cm apart or
as seedlings and transplanted into rows 80–100 cm apart. Seeds should be planted during the early wet season as rosella is a
short day-length plant and requires 12–12 ½ hours of daylight to flower.
Nowadays the red calyx is commonly used in jams and cordials
Flowers are edible and the petals and leaves can be used fresh salads, the tender young leaves may be cooked as spinach 1
The calyxes are harvested when fully grown but still tender. This is the stage when they can be snapped by hand.2
Let the calyces dry and pick when the interior seed pod has opened. Seed Viability is two to three years.
These estimates for how long Roselle takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.
Average 9 days | Min 9 days | Max 9 days (1)
Average days | Min days | Max days (0)
Average days | Min days | Max days (0)
Traditionally, shoots, leaves and roots were eaten without preparation, flowers were eaten raw or cooked and the fibre was used to make dilly bags and hunting nets. 1
Guragod, Roselle thai red, Native rosella, Jamaican Tea, Maple-leaf hibiscus, Florida Cranberry, October hibiscus, red Sorrell, Flor de Jamaica