Roselle

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.

Plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to apply water fairly sparingly. Zone 10 to 14 are typically the USDA Hardiness Zones that are appropriate for this plant (although this can vary based on your microclimate). Roselle requires a soil ph of 5.6 - 7.5 meaning it does best in weakly acidic soil - weakly alkaline soil. Keep in mind when planting that Roselle is thought of as tender, so remember to wait until your soil is warm and the night time temperature is well above freezing before moving outside.

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 1.46 feet (45.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.39 inches (1.0 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 24°C / 75°F to ensure good germination.

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.

These plants have been known to grow well alongside Roselle so consider planting:

These plants will not grow well with Roselle so avoid planting these within close proximity:

These problems, diseases and pests are known to affect Roselle plants:

Roselle thai red

These estimates for how long Roselle takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world. Start logging and journaling your observations to participate!