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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03 Feb 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You may have over fertilised them. Usually when plants are really big and strong and not flowering etc they have had too much fertiliser especially N.
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02 Nov 19, Jack Naidu (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you have Rosella seeds or plants
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04 Nov 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
This website doesn't sell any seeds etc. Try a nursery, Bunnings or even facebook- market place. A person is selling seedlings in the Bundaberg area now on marketplace.
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06 Oct 19, bernard wilson (Australia - temperate climate)
surely to goodness somebody must know the answer as to why rosella plants wilt all of a sudden,It is nice to see all the qustions mentioning the various stages of wilting all of a sudden.this is all very well and good to know that I am not the only one this is happening to.Where are all the answers.Surely their must be some experts with the solution to this problem.Or don't they want us to know for some unknown reason? Surely some of the commercial growers must know.or do they have access to the cure that the home gardener is banned from using such as fruit fly prevention etc.it is very frustrating not to know the reason why this is happening.i am trying Yates Root Rot prevention at the moment.am I on the right track?
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07 Oct 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
There are no experts on this website I'm sorry to say. I'm just a home gardener trying to help genuine people. I grew parsley a few years ago and about this time of year it just died in the space of a week, very healthy plant to brown in a few days. When I have a problem I go looking on the internet. Ring up your state government agricultural department. Agricultural supply companies.
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16 Jun 19, Judy Budgen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Full grown rosella bushes looking very healthy, and then suddenly wilting and dying for no visable reason. They were just starting to flower and some very starting to set fruit. Any help would be appreciated.
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31 May 19, BRUCE CHAPMAN (Australia - temperate climate)
When to prune Rozella plants
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13 Apr 19, Sandra (Australia - temperate climate)
One of my Roselle bushes growing well but no producing flowers or calyxes. Any ideas?
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06 Apr 19, R Townsend (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
are Rosella plants able to be kept growing for a second season, our crop this year of four plants are around four foot high and seem extremely sturdy and just starting to fruit now.April, if so do they need to be pruned back to ensure a second crop.
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24 Mar 19, Ardelle (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
One of my rosella is big and tall but no flowers, the others are fruiting well. Does anyone know why? Thanks
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Showing 51 - 60 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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