You may also know Florida cranberry ( Hibiscus sabdariffa ) as Roselle or Sorrel . While not native to the state , grow Florida cranberry in Florida is very well-fixed .
The good time to plant Florida Cranberry in Florida is April and May . The plant arise through the warm months of the year and is quick for harvest around October . Florida Cranberry grows to about 6 feet tall and enjoys full sunlight and regular watering .
Roselle has a unique looking edible fruit that has a tangy and scented flavor , which can also be used to make tea or jam . The leaf are also edible !
Planting Florida Cranberry
In most parts of Florida the best time to plant Florida cranberry is in April or May . You need the weather to be warm and humid . Florida cranberry does not enjoy nerveless weather condition at all .
Florida cranberry is denounce to develop in zone 9 - 11 , Those in the northerly parts of Florida will have the toughest time growing this plant up until the point of harvestable yield .
This plant is an one-year , This means that this industrial plant will die out after one growing cycle . For this reason , it ’s important to lay aside seeds and cuttings after each season for have a uninterrupted supply of this plant .
Florida cranberry can grow up to 7 substructure marvellous but typically you may expect a flora anywhere from 3 - 6 feet tall . When planting Florida cranberry be trusted that you prefer a blot in full sunlight that can support a plant that will grow that bombastic .
Growing Florida Cranberry
Florida cranberry enjoys plenty of water . Florida cranberry grows during our warmer and wetter month so with steady pelting you might not need to irrigate every day but , on the days that it does n’t rain down , your industrial plant will do good if you do water it .
lead : Pruning when youthful can elevate more branching which increases your fruit production .
The heavy cuss you will believably battle but not see are the nematode worm . They feign the roots of the works and finally lead to death . Nematodes are difficult to care if your stain has them . you’re able to combat them by planting in container of fresh soil .
You may also chance the steady summertime pests like aphids and mealybugs . These can be handle in uttermost cases with neem oil or other insecticidal grievous bodily harm . If catch early , removal by helping hand is efficacious and so is a inviolable spirt of water .
Fertilizing Florida Cranberry
Florida cranberry will do good if you added compost and organic thing to the soil when planting . They do n’t require veritable fertilizing to grow healthy and bring out fruit but that does n’t mean you should n’t give them superfluous fertilizer .
A good organic choice is fish plant food or kelp fertiliser , although it is pretty smelly , so be train for that . If you do n’t really care about an organic optionThis southern ag fertilizerhas a good mixing of nutrients to produce green leafy growth but also a high amount of phosphorus to promote heavy flowering and fruiting .
Harvesting Florida Cranberry
Flowering and fruiting begin to happen 4 - 6 calendar month after planting . In Florida you may carry to harvest fruit in October and November .
The fruit form just beneath the flower forefront , the part of the plant is called the calyces . They are at their juiciest after the flower has shriveled up and been swallowed by the calyces .
The fruits are so unambiguously determine . They almost look like slight formal of attack to me .
The edible parts of the fruit are the pedal looking parts . you’re able to peel them apart and in the center is a ejaculate seedpod that you’re able to salvage for next class .
Using Florida Cranberry
The pedal point of the fruit can be eat raw as a fresh and sour tart goody , interchangeable to cranberry .
you may also use the fruit to make a circumstances of interesting thing to diversify your cabinet ! Things like crush , sirup , and other drink . Ill put a some links below for some of these unlike recipes .
Related Quesitons
Yes , the leaf of Roselle are edible . you may eat them as a cooked green like a sauteed Spinacia oleracea or the such . you could eat the young leaves raw in salads and they will add a nice texture and flavour to your snack .
No , They are not the same affair . They are both part of the same Hibiscus family but the two plant life see very different . Roselle has grean leafy maturation and produces a sharp yield .
Cranberry hibiscus grows productive cherry-red leave-taking and and bright pink flower , which are both edible . but it does not grow a sweet and lemonlike fruit .
