FRUIT-TREE-ROSELLA
FRUIT-TREE-ROSELLA
A$3.50
Availability: 358 in stock
Hibiscus sabdariffa
FRUIT TREE-ROSELLA a native of tropical West Africa, is an attractive annual shrub to 1.5 m high with large, lobed reddish leaves & attractive yellow hibiscus-like flowers that prefers warm climates. They are easy to grow, with no pest problems, hardy & prolific. Most soil types are suitable if they are rich and well-drained. Plenty of water is needed to maintain growth, flowering, and fruit progress, mulching is beneficial.
Rosellas need at least 5 months frost-free to bear & need a very warm soil to germinate, preferably over 25°C. In southern areas of Australia, this would be as late as October outside. Some years the soil might take even longer to warm up. So gardeners in cooler areas need to start seed indoors using a small bottom-heat unit, or the top of the water heater. Plant several seeds 50 cm apart and thin seedlings to the strongest.
| Germination Time (Days) | 5 – 14 |
| Maturity Time (Days) | 180 – 200 |
| Sowing Depth (mm) | 10 |
| Plant Spacing (cm) | 50 |
| Row Spacing (cm) | 100 |
| pH |
5.5 – 7.5 |
| Soil Temperature (°C) | – |
| Hardy / Frost Tender | Frost Tender |
| Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings | Raise Seedlings |
| Seed Preparation | – |
Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Plant Height
1 - 2 meters (3 - 6 feet)
Season of Interest
Spring to Autumn
Temperature Range
20 - 30 °C
Determine / Indeterminate
Annual / Perennial / Biennial
Annual in most climates, but can be perennial in tropical regions.
Frost Hardy / Tender
Frost Tender
Full Sun / Part Sun / Shade
Full Sun
Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings
Can be sown directly in warm climates, but seedlings are often raised indoors in cooler areas.
Soil
Well-drained, loamy or sandy soil with good organic matter.
pH
5.5 - 7.0
Soil Temperature
20 - 25 °C (68 - 77 °F)
Seed Preparation
Soak seeds for 24 hours or lightly scarify them for better germination.
Sowing Depth
1 - 2 cm (0.5 inch)
Plant Spacing
60 - 90 cm (2 - 3 feet)
Row spacing
1 meter (3 feet)
Watering
Moderate watering; keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged
Germination Time (Days)
7 - 14 days
Harvest Time (Days)
100 - 140 days
Good Companion Plants
Basil, Beans, Corn, Marigolds.
Bad Companion Plants
Potatoes, Cabbage, Broccoli (due to nutrient competition)
Pests
Aphids,Whiteflies,Spider Mites
Diseases
Root Rot (due to poor drainage),Powdery Mildew,Leaf Spot
More About Us
When I started this journey in 2009, I found nothing existed commercially, that was reasonably priced and easy to use. There was a homemade system which I also found was not that user-friendly.
Then a friend of mine told me about a homemade method she used. However, when I tried her method, I found this also didn’t suit my needs, as it too had flaws that I considered where important. It did not keep vermin out, did not have a lockable lid and (to me) looked unsightly in the garden
