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Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
										P	P

(Best months for planting Rosella in Australia - cool/mountain regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

November: Must be under glass or in mini greenhouse to start

• Harvest in 21-25 weeks.
• Sow in garden, or start in seed trays. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 68°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
• Space plants: 55 inches apart

This frost tender annual grows to a height of 2 metres. It is grown for its red fruit which make delicious jam or jelly.

Rosella needs a growing season of at least 6 months warm weather so is best suited to tropical or sub-tropical areas. Can be started under glass in cooler areas. Water well and give a dressing of fertiliser when flowering starts.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Rosella

The large flowers produce a crimson enlarged calyx.
Use the fleshy red calyx, without the green seed pod to make jam or jelly.

Your comments and tips

01 Sep 10, Barb (Australia - arid climate)

Hi Dorothy, You can buy Rosella seed online from Green Harvest in Australia. Maybe there is a US online source too.

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28 Aug 10, Beth Tozer (Australia - temperate climate)

In the late 60s and early 70s we grew Rosellas at the "Log Cabin" in Glasshouse Mountains. Made heaps of jam and it was very well received. Do you think I could grow them here in Paynesville, East Gippsland Vic. (flowering hibiscus grow well in my garden). If so where is best place to buy seed and time to plant. Thanks, Beth

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27 Jul 10, Maggie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Used to grow well on flood plain in Tweed Valley when I was a kid - black peaty soils. Grandma made the jam, hence my search for the topic - yum, love that slight tangy bite to the flavour.

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20 Jul 10, marlene (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

How much fruit do you normally get from one bush. Can they handle Bris/Sunshine weather in summer. What kind fo soil do they prefer?

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30 Jun 10, Natalie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

greenharvest sells the seeds online.

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27 Jun 10, Graham Horrocks (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

After fruiting is over, do i cut bush back or remove all together.

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26 Jun 10, Anne meguyer (Australia - temperate climate)

I live in a coastal belt at Port Stephens. Where can I obtain plants to grow same? I grew up in Qld so recall them being grown there. No one round here seems to know of them. Thank You. Anne

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12 Jun 10, philomene bell (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

planted 3 rosella bushes about 4 weeks ago and the y are starting bare fruit how do i know when they are ready to pick

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18 Jun 10, Jean (Australia - tropical climate)

Hi, you can pick them once the calyx has firmed up.

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13 May 10, Lisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I would like to preserve the rosella flowers for a friend, like they do commercially for the bottom of your champagne glass. Can anyone help?

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