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 20°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 140 cm apart
  • Harvest in 21-25 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Feverfew, Coriander, Nasturtium and Hyssop

Your comments and tips

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12 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
The info here says plant Oct to Dec and it takes 21-25 weeks - so you have planted out of season maybe. Maybe you used too much fertiliser. Plants will go to seed or fruit when the nutrient has been used up or when the season is right. Most vegies are seasonal to each climate zone.
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21 Jan 18, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
If hey get too wet they can die suddenly. I've just had a couple die off quickly.
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15 Jan 18, kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
My rosella plants don't seem to be fruiting is there something wrong or is it to early for them to fruit
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21 Jan 18, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm having having the same trouble. They would have normally flowered by now. The plants are looking healthy, just no flowers. Have you managed to find anything else out as to why? I'm also in Brisbane.
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17 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Do some research on the internet about it.
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16 Dec 17, Bernadette (Australia - temperate climate)
My rosella seems to be dying, do they die off and come back later or just die or is it just asleep. I live at Fitzgibbon Brisbane, thank you
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19 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It's an annual so it may have just died. Google and read about growing it.
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08 Dec 17, Sue (Australia - tropical climate)
My rosella bush leaves are being eaton by something I can't see anything on them but it is leaving small holes in them. What is a safe spray to use on the rosella bushes.
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01 Jan 18, Tanya (Australia - temperate climate)
I use a neem oil spray on my bush. That's non harmful to the beneficial insects and only harms the things which eat the leaves.
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15 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look up an organic spray.
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Showing 91 - 100 of 411 comments
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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.

- Rhonda AFFOO

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