Growing Rosella, also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle

Hibiscus Subdantta : Malvaceae / the mallow family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
S             S S S S S
T T T           T T T T
P P             P P P P

(Best months for growing Rosella in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • 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
  • Harvest in 21-25 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Feverfew, Coriander, Nasturtium and Hyssop

Your comments and tips

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22 Oct 08, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Where can i get seeds for Hibiscus Subdantta (Rosella)
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07 Nov 08, alister (senior gardener) (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Rosella. 1st Bunnings are stocking small plants in the Brisbane region .Elsewhere?? (Nov 08) Plant in a free draining bed, enriched with organic matter. If in a warmer climate mulch with sugar cane straw. NOT bark,or wood chip as they cause the soil to go hydrophobic. (water repellent).Use plenty of a nitrogen based fertiliser and get good leaf growth. Plants about 1.2 metres apart. Consider sulphate of potash to get vigorous qualtiy plants.Light side dressings at the roots drip zones..Plants that are well fed and growing strongly are particular able to resist insect and disease attack. If you use seed expect to see it through in 10-14 days.Put slug bait on the covering soil and cover all with 3-4 pages of newspaper or 50mm of cane mulch.Be careful to watch as the seedlings come through so they do not become leggy.Keep damp. We have 7 plants underway on Macleay Island Brisbane.Best wishes and good luck.
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12 Dec 19, Rhonda AFFOO (Australia - temperate climate)
I live at Kilcoy QLD (Somerset Council area) & I always plant my Rosella seeds in seed trays 2nd week in August & raise under black plastic.. They germinate pretty quickly this way which allows me to have them high enough to transplant into raised beds before end of September. This way I can usually start harvesting the rosella pods by end of Dec. They keep bearing until the first hint of winter (temperature drop or cool winds) they then turn up their toes & I pull them out..I rest my beds & grow a green manure using cheap canary seed which I trim back with whipper snipper to break down in to the soil.
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17 Jul 20, Jeff Bell (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are you saying that after a harvest you pull the plant out? Does the turning up of the toes always happen in Winter? This is exactly what happened to my plant. I thought I killed it in someway!
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23 Feb 21, Cas (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted my rosellas in August '20 then potted up into half wicking pots and half hugelkultur pots, some in small plastic garbage bins. I have 10 plants. Of these, 4 started as seedlings from Bunnings, the rest were seeds I'd saved from previous years. Only 1 of these plants is flowering and fruiting. All look very healthy. I thought to give the non flowering ones some potash to help them flower. Will this encourage them?
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27 Feb 21, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)
A bit of potash shouldn't hurt, but I've found that mine don't start flowering until the days start getting shorter, no matter what I do! It should just be a matter of time for the rest of yours to start. Your precocious plant might be getting just a tiny bit less sun than the others due to placement in the garden. The end of my row that's closest to the house always starts flowering first, because it gets an hour less sun than the other end of the row.
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11 Nov 08, rod Macdonald (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live in Bribane and cannot get (rosella) seed. Where can I buy seed.
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12 Nov 08, Sunita (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
When can I plant rosella?How do I do it.What fertilizers should I use?
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23 Nov 08, nostress (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can get rosella seed from Green Harvest try greenharvest.com.au
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27 Nov 08, Amy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
when should you pick your rosella fruit?
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Showing 11 - 20 of 409 comments
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For a family grow 4 to 6 plants; when making the jam, jelly, chutney, or flowers in syrup for later use in champaigne, save some seed pods. Dry them carefully in the sun avoiding rain and birds. Rosellas may be found in the Brisbane Markets most months except July and August. 2009 prices are $4.00 to $7.00 for the firm clean dry fruit. Retail would be from $5.00 to $10.00 per Kg. Packed in new jars and well labeled the jam sells at $4.50 per 300g. Poorly packed in scruffy second or third hand jars 500g may sell for $4.00 if you are silly enough to make it properly and the pack it poorly; either way its a lot of work...two or three boilings of twenty to 30 minutes and lots of sticky red mess on sauspans, seives, jugs, ladles, benches and floors; sugar, lemons, limes and jam thickener all have a place in the jam making. I first made the jam with my parents in 1955 after growing 12 to 16 bushes successfully for my Gardeners Badge in Cubs. The Secret Jam makers business covers the many ways of removing the calyx from the seed pod. HOWEVER THE FLAVOUR IS NEVER FORGOTTEN UNIQUELY QUEENSLAND AND UNSURPASSED. Over the years I' ve raise hundreds of dollars for the Red Cross and Local Churches and given away dozens of jars of Jam. I am trying a recipe I devised for Rusella Butter which should knock Lemon Butter way off the shelves. Rosella Jam made with enough sugar will keep for 12 months below 25 oC, refrigerate after opening. Rosella Butter and Lemon Butter, Lime Butter, Passionfruit, Orange or Banana Butter must be refrigerated at ALL times and then will probably only last 4 or 5 weeks...even less once you open it! Lick your wooden spoons all you Qld. Jam makers. Plant the seeds (rosellas) after the last frost and plant 1 m apart in a sunny spot in well drained soil, applying fertiliser when the flowers first start. The plants may last two seasons but need to be trimmed in wet weather and after fruiting. Thehy are easier to remover after ONE season.

- Geoff

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