Roselle plant is a tall, tropical,
red and green shrub that makes a colorful addition in the garden and it also taste
awful like cranberries. Just continue reading to learn more about how to grow Roselle
plants.
How to care for Roselle
Plant
Roselle plant is native to tropical
Africa, and is common in the tropics worldwide. Roselle plant can be grown from
seed in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) zones 8-11, and as far
north as zone 6 if it is started indoors and then transplanted outside. Also growing
this plant from cuttings is another good option, although the plants tend not
to produce as many flowers, which is what they are regularly grown for… sort
of. The hibiscus-like flowers are beautiful, but it is the calyx – the bright
red sheath that opens up to reveal that flower – that is so prized for its
flavor. You can harvest the calyces when they are still tender (about ten days
after the flowers appear). The flowers can be eaten raw in salads, or boiled in
water in a ¼ fruit to water ratio and strained to make a delicious and
refreshing juice. The leftover pulp can also be used to make jams and pies. The
flavor is very similar to cranberry, but it is less bitter.
Steps on how to grow Roselle plants
This plant actually begins to produce
flowers when the days get shorter. However, no matter how early you grow your Roselle
plant, you won’t be harvesting your calyces until October at the earliest.
Unfortunately, Roselle plant is very frost sensitive, which means that in
temperate zones you may not get calyces at all. In areas that experience no
frost, however, you can plant the Roselle plants in May and expect continuous
harvest of calyces from October through late February, as the harvest of
flowers encourages new growth. Actually Roselle plant care is relatively easy. You
can sow the seeds or plant the cuttings in sandy loam that receives full sun
and then water them regularly. Little to no fertilization is necessary. Make sure
you weed around them in the very beginning, on the other hand the Roselle plants
grow vigorously and will shade out weeds on their own soon enough.
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