Abelmoschus manihot grow and care – shrub of the genus Abelmoschus and also known as Aibika or Hibiscus manihot, Abelmoschus manihot evergreen perennial but in a cold weather become deciduous or grow as annual plant and also used as ornamental plant, can grow in mediterranean, subtropics, temperate or tropics climate and growing in hardiness zone 10b+ as perennial and 5+ as annual.
Aibika leaves edible fleshy leaves with 5-7 lobes, sometimes the lobes very prominent and sometimes barely visible, depending on the species and conditions of growth, the leaves can reach to 15 cm.
Abelmoschus manihot flowers
Flowers are bright yellow edges on the inside near the stamens are darkened to purple brown.
Hibiscus manihot fruits are similar okra that it’s relative but are probably not edible (they might be edible but this information needs to be checked),
Seeds can be used as a substitute for coffee.
Tuber edible and starchy is used to develop a number of bulbs connected to the main root, look as cassava tuber.
Abelmoschus manihot for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy
How to grow Abelmoschus manihot growing and care:
Well-drained soil
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seedling / Seed (explanation bellow) / Vegetative Reproduction – start by cutting it’s harder care than to start by seeds, requirements for growing in soli: start in the spring, moist soil, high humidity, peat soil, hormone for root growth, possible to grow it in water, both in half shade.
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No, but if you growing for the leaves some cultivars are tender than the other
Difficulties or problems when growing:
In hot climate the
Planting season:
Spring as annual in hardiness zone 5+, as perennial spring to summer in hardness zone 10b-11a, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11b+
Pests and diseases:
Aphids, slugs
Pruning season:
Autumn
How to prune:
Not recommend to prune, but possible to cut the top of plant
Size of the plant?
1-2 m, 40-80 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Medium growing
Water requirement:
Average amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Less than full sun in hot summer climates
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes
Blooming information
Bloom season?
Spring / Summer / Autumn
General information about the flower:
Flowers are bright yellow edges on the inside near the stamens are darkened to purple brown
Thinning the bloom:
No need
Pollination is done by:
Bees
Fruit and seeds edible information
Seeds are the edilbe part (fruit maybe need confirmation)
Fruit harvest season:
Summer / Autumn
Fruits pests or diseases:
Birds
What can be done with big quantities of Aibika fruit?
Beverage
Work requirements on the fruit:
Collect the seeds from the fruits before it falls to the ground
How long does it take to bear fruit?
5-8 month
How to Grow from seeds
Sowing requirement:
2-3.5 mm black seeds
Saving seeds until sowing:
Dry, dark place
Sowing season:
Spring
Planting spacing:
20-30 cm
Depth of Sowing:
1-2 cm
Conditions for seeds germinate:
moist not too much, well drain soil
Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water
Germination time:
2 weeks – 3 month
Condition of seedling:
Keep the soil moist without it the plant can be die
Do the seeds require burying?
No
Vegetative Reproduction
Vegetative Reproduction Method:
Cutting, tubers
Preferred time for vegetative reproduction:
Autumn
Time to grow roots in vegetative reproduction:
3-7 weeks
Treatment for vegetative reproduction:
Moist, well drain soil, half shade
Edible leaves
Leaves harvesting season:
In tropics climate all year, in colder place spring, summer, autumn
How to harvest the leaves?
Next to the branch
Information about leaves:
Fleshy leaves with 5-7 lobes
Uses of Aibika leaves:
Young leaves can used for salad and the fully grown for cooking, stir fry, staffed leaves
Edible Roots
Information about tuber
Roots are used to develop a number of bulbs connected to the main root, look as cassava tuber
Harvesting tuber season:
Autumn
Uses of tuber:
Cooked
Scientific name:
Abelmoschus manihot
Alternative names: Aibika, Hibiscus manihot, Sunset muskmallow, Sunset hibiscus
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