Newsletter July 31 2015

We feed on our weeds

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EAT your Dollar Weed
Pop those leaves off the stem, wash, and chow down! We do. Dollar weed is just another leafy green we add to our salads. Don’t collect them from ditches or your chemically treated lawn.

Dollar weed can help lower blood pressure.

Photo by Eat The Weeds
Reference: http://www.eattheweeds.com/a-pennywort-for-your-thoughts-2/

Too many hibiscus'?

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Do you get your Hibiscus' confused?




"Starr 071024-0043 Hibiscus acetosella" by Forest & Kim Starr. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
"Haceto". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Cranberry Hibiscus
(Hibiscus acetosella)​​
aka false roselle, maroon mallow, red shield hibiscus ​​

Cranberry hibiscus has edible leaves. The color ranges from a red tinged green to a beautiful red-burgundy. They have a wonderful tangy-tart flavor added to salads, slaws, or stir fries. Roll a few leaves into a tube then thinly slice to use as a beautiful garnish. The leaves look similar to a Japanese maple leaf. In the fall, it has pink flowers which are also edible but don't have much flavor. The calyx of this flower is not juicy and plump as in the Roselle Hibiscus.

Plant seeds about 1/2 inch deep in pots or direct sow. For us, cranberry hibiscus prefers full sun and organic amended soil to reach the red-burgundy leaf color. Protect it from frost and it will reward you year after year.

To date, we have not had any insect issues with this plant.

This plant is considered invasive in Florida, however we have never seen it escape our garden. If you have concerns about your area, contact your local Extension Office.

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"Flor de Jamaica". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
"Hsabdariffa1". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Roselle Hibiscus

(Hibiscus sabdariffa)​​
aka Jamaican Sorrel and Florida Cranberry​​

The juicy sepal or calyx of Roselle Hibiscus surrounds the seed pod and is used to make tea, jam, jelly, wine, pie, or sauces. Some wonderful recipes can be found here. The calyx is gathered when it is tender, crisp and plump and can be dried, frozen, or used fresh. We also use the tender young green leaves with red veins to bring tang and color to summer salads. Roselle Hibiscus leaves also contain 3 percent pectin for those who can jelly and jam. The flowers of Roselle Hibiscus are a creamy color with a red center. They also are edible but not much in the way of flavor.

Roselle can be started from seed or cuttings. It grows well in stifling hot and humid summers here in SW Florida. We start our seeds in May when other crops are starting to fail from the heat then harvest calyxes September to November.

These plants have LONG tap roots and do not transplant well. Direct seed them about 1/2 inch deep where you want them to grow then thin to at least 3 feet part for a living hedge. Each plant can grow up to 6 feet tall and wide in four months. These plants are not frost resistant so take a cutting when frost is predicted.

Roselle might lower blood pressure and is high in vitamin C.
​The University of Florida data sheet is located here.

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"Hibiskus rosa-sinensis - Kwiat" by Lestat (Jan Mehlich) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Hibiscus

(Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)​​

AKA Chinese hibiscus, China rose, Hawaiian hibiscus, and shoeblackplant

As per Hidden Vally Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis is the ancestor of the modern, exotic hibiscus, is also frequently used for tea. Flowers and leaves can be used, but the flowers make a sweeter tea, and the leaves make a more astringent tea.

For more information on Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis see: http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/misc/edible.htm