Hibiscus root leaves and flower petals are considered edible and commonly eaten in salads or brewed as a tea. In many Southeast Asian countries, hibiscus root is a staple of the people’s diet, containing the most protein any leafy green has to offer.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Abelmoschus manihot, commonly known as aibika, is a flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It is a subshrub or shrub native to the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, central and southern China, Malesia, New Guinea, and Queensland. It was previously classified as a species of Hibiscus but is now categorized under the genus Abelmoschus. This plant is also referred to as the sunset muskmallow, sunset hibiscus, or hibiscus manihot.
Edible Hibiscus, Abelmoschus manihot, is a nutritious, high in protein, perennial shrub grown for its large leaves. The plant grows up to 12 feet tall, has leaves as large or larger than a plate, and a beautiful hibiscus flower. This plant is extremely hardy, vigorous and abundant.
Although technically a shrub, aibika is a perennial plant that, under favorable conditions, can grow over three meters in height. It is easily propagated through cuttings and relatively disease-resistant. As a result, it is widely cultivated and often found along garden borders or as an intercrop in traditional tropical gardens. Its growth habit, along with its nutritional value, contributes to its popularity in home gardening and horticulture.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
The hibiscus root requires full sun – the plant thrives on at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, with all-day sunshine being even better. If grown in partial or full shade, seed pod production will be minimal.
Temperature
The hibiscus root needs plenty of heat if it is to thrive, so will need to be grown under glass in temperate climates. In tropical or sub-tropical climates, it will be more than happy outside and will grow rapidly. The plant is actually a perennial but is often grown as an annual, and will need to be in cooler climates, as it will not cope with anything close to freezing temperatures. Thought to be from either Africa or South Asia, they love high humidity and heat, and will tolerate some drought. Temperatures below 15 ℃ will be detrimental to the plant – they prefer a minimum temperature of 20 ℃.
Watering
Your hibiscus root will need to be watered regularly throughout the summer. An average of 2.5 cm of water a week is needed, but this will need to be increased in hotter climates. Container-grown plants will also need to be watered more frequently.
Soil
The hibiscus root will tolerate most garden soils, including clay, but will do best in well-drained, loam-rich soil. It prefers slightly acidic soil, but providing the soil is not very alkaline, it should grow well. If growing in pots, a general, high-quality, multi-purpose compost is recommended.
Fertilizing
The hibiscus root doesn’t need much feeding if it is grown in good, loam-rich soil. Ideally, the bed will have been enriched with manure or organic matter prior to planting, and may benefit from a further mulch of organic matter when the plants are beginning to flower. Container-grown plants will benefit from a fortnightly feed that is high in potassium, such as a tomato feed.
Planting Instructions
Ideally, seeds are direct-sown 1 to 2 cm deep into their final positions, as they dislike root disturbance. Thin plants to between 30 to 61 cm apart, depending on the variety, and keep well watered whilst they are getting established. It is thought to be beneficial to soak the seeds overnight in warm water prior to planting, as this speeds up germination. Soil temperature is also important and would ideally be at 20 ℃. It may be necessary to cover the soil with a cloche or black plastic to artificially increase the soil temperature depending on your climate.
If in a cooler climate, sow in 9 cm plugs or pots and thin to one per plug or pot after germination. Grow on until the weather warms up and plant out into their final positions – either in a greenhouse in cool temperate climates or into a sheltered sunny spot in slightly warmer climates.
Pruning
The most important thing with the hibiscus root is to harvest your plant regularly before the pods get too big by cutting, and not pulling, from the plant. It is also recommended, particularly with container-grown plants, to pinch out the tips of the plants to encourage bushiness. Lower leaves can also be removed later in the season to speed up pod production and help improve airflow. You can also snip off the top of your plant later in the season to encourage it to focus energy on pod production.
Propagation
Edible Hibiscus is grown primarily from cuttings. Simply cut off a branch or some of the trunk and take those cuttings and stick them in the ground. They will take off after a short period and begin growing rapidly! I usually use cuttings a foot or so (30 cm) in length.
III. Uses and Benefits
- Culinary uses
Aibika is renowned for its highly nutritious properties. Its leaves are rich in essential vitamins, including a high content of vitamins A and C, as well as iron. Moreover, they contain approximately 12% protein by dry weight, making aibika a valuable dietary source. The leaves are commonly incorporated into various dishes such as tinola, sinigang, pinangat, or used in salads in regions like the Philippines.
- Other uses
Apart from its culinary uses, aibika has additional applications in different cultures. In Japan, it is known as tororo aoi and is utilized to produce neri, a starchy substance used in traditional Japanese papermaking (washi). Similarly, in Korean, it is referred to as hwang chok kyu and plays a role in making dak pul, an ingredient used in the production of hanji, Korean paper.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
The edible green seeds pods on the hibiscus root follow the flowers and will swell rapidly. They benefit from being harvested at least three times per week and as much as once a day. Cut from the plant when they are 5 to 10 cm long, as the mature pods will be too tough to eat. Wear gloves when harvesting as many plants have tiny hairs that can aggravate the skin. plants will generally begin to crop after two months and will do so prodigiously in warm climates until the temperature drops. Pods also are easily bruised so handle delicately. Pods can be frozen or canned for winter consumption.
Find Where to Buy the Best Aibika (Abelmoschus manihot)
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