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Hibiscus, Herbal Tea Zinger ~ 30 seeds

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SKU
43058678
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Sun Preference
Full-Sun
Bloom or Harvest Time
Summer, Fall
  $3.99

Description

Hibiscus sabdariffa
Annual
Summer/Fall harvest
Heat loving/Frost tender

A great variety for containers!

This special herbal tea plant has attractive lobed leaves and creamy flowers. Once the pretty blossoms are spent, just pick and air dry the teardrop-shaped flower calyxes to make a delicious ruby-colored tea with a floral, berry aroma and well balanced, cranberry-like flavor. Antioxidant packed Hibiscus tea is delicious on its own either steaming hot or iced, or add a touch of lemon, a little honey, or your favorite fruit juice. Also called Jamaican tea or Roselle.

Seed Starting Successfully

Start your garden from scratch with Gertens' wide variety of seed packets! Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, we have seeds for every skill level and garden size. From colorful flowers to delicious vegetables, our seeds are carefully selected for their quality and performance.

Seed Starting Successfully

Grow Your Best

When to Grow Veggies & Fruits

From Our Experts

Details

Cold Winters: April – May  
Mild Winters: March 
Sun/Shade: Full sun 
Sow Seeds: 1 inch apart, 1/2 inch deep
Days to Germinate: 7 – 10 days 
Mature Height: 2 – 3 feet 

BEST TO START INDOORS
In early spring, start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before outdoor temperatures are reliably in the 50°F (10°C) range. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart in seed starting mix. Keep very warm 75 to 80°F (24 to 27°C) and moist but not soggy. Provide a strong light source. When 2 inches tall, transplant seedlings into individual 4 inch pots. Feed with half-strength liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks until weather is warm and nights stay above 55°F (13°C). Gradually acclimate seedlings to the outdoors.

GROWING NOTES
Hibiscus thrive in a sunny, very warm spot in rich and well-drained soil, so add compost or aged manure to the planting bed. Transplant seedlings 8 to 12 inches apart. Pinch tops when 10 inches tall to encourage a bushy, branching form.

For Containers: choose pots 18 inches in diameter and 16 to 18 inches tall.

HARVEST AND USE
After flowers have finished blooming, harvest the deep-red, teardrop-shaped, calyxes at the base of each blossom. Snap off calyxes that are ready, removing spent flower if still attached Use fresh, or air-dry for longer storage.

To Dry: spread in a single layer on paper towels or cotton cloth for 7 to 10 days in a cool, dry place indoors out of heat and humidity. Store in an airtight container. For delicious tea, crush and steep several tablespoons to each cup of boiling water. Honey or sugar and lemon are nice additions. Makes a beautiful iced tea. For a cocktail, combine with sugar, lemon, a little ginger syrup and good rum.

More Information

Mature Height (Range) 25" - 36"
Spacing in Row 1", thin/transplant 8-12" apart
Days to Germination 7-10 days
Planting Depth 1/2"
Seed Packet Type Herbs
Plant Life Cycle Annual
Bloom or Harvest Time Summer, Fall
Sun Preference Full-Sun
Common Family Name Hibiscus
Brand Renee's Garden

Product Questions (12)

Starting times will vary depending on the vegetable you are growing. Each seed packet will have specific sowing instructions for that type of vegetable. Some plants, such as tomatoes and peppers, should be started indoors, 6-8 weeks before the last frost...
The process of bringing seeds outside is called hardening off. Hardening off is generally done sometime after the seedling has two full sets of normal leaves. In Minnesota, you want to begin hardening off seedlings in late April/early May.  To ...
If you have a southern facing window with all day sun, you may grow seedlings in a windowsill. Be sure to rotate the seedlings frequently to ensure the plants do not lean heavily towards the sun. For more even results, use a grow light, positioned roughly...
We recommend using either high intensity T5 fluorescent bulbs, or LED grow lights. Both setups will produce excellent results. T5s are the typical grow light, are economical and come in frequencies that are helpful for plant development. LED technology...
Grow lights should be kept roughly 4-5” above the top of seedling leaves. If you are using very powerful LEDs, you could even keep them 8-10” away.
Grow lights should be used to mimic a natural sunlight cycle for plants. We recommend using them 12 hours a day, from roughly 7am to 7pm.  
A variety of seedling trays exist for seed starting. If you are starting smaller seeds, a simple peat cell tray works great. However, the larger the seed, the larger the initial pot should be. If you are starting larger seeds indoors such as: sunflowers...
Do not start any type of fertilizer regime for young seedlings until they have at least two full sets of regular leaves. Start with a root stimulator, then after a month you may move on to a gentle, weak (half strength) water-based fertilizer. Remember...
Let the roots tell you when to transplant. When you begin to see the seedling’s root growing out of the bottom of their current pot, it is time to transplant up to something larger. We recommend using a 4” nursery pot to transplant most seedlings. In...
Gertens carries a wide variety of both spring and autumn planted bulbs. Spring planted bulbs, such as gladioli and dahlias, are best started indoors in early April, and planted outside once the soil temperatures are above 55 F. Autumn planted bulbs, ...
The big three tips are: 1) Staking and training 2) Feeding and watering and 3) Harvesting and enjoying. 1) Keeping plants trained and staked allows air circulation around crops and provides much-needed support for produce as it grows...
Gertens does carry an assortment of both perennials, as well as annual and perennial wildflower mixes. It is important to remember when growing perennials, that you will not get any flowers the first year of growth. It often takes a perennial 2-3 years...
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