Gongura Seeds (Ambadi)

Looks like Spinach in younger age, this plant brings red strips on its leaves. This plant can even thrive in poor quality soil and drainage.

How to grow Gongura (Ambadi) from Seeds:

Introduction and Uses: Gongura is a perennial know for its culinary and medicinal uses. This leafy vegetable is a rich source of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals that are highly beneficial for overall health.

Botanical Name: Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) and Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

Sowing Season: Throughout the year. Best grown in winter.

Sowing method: Seeds are sown directly in raised beds or containers.

Sowing container: Use a shallow container with a minimum depth of 5 inches & bigger spread area (according to available space & requirement) like trays or crates.

Sowing medium: 2 part garden soil & 1 part any organic manure or 1 part garden soil, 1 part coco peat & 1 part Vermicompost.

Steps for seed sowing (Seed starting) in a container:

Select a container with uniform drainage holes at the bottom.

Fill the container with selected growing medium.

Spacing:

Make shallow holes (1 cm) at a distance of 3 x 3 inches.

Sow 2-3 seeds per hole.

Push the seeds a little into the soil medium with your fingers & cover them completely with surrounding soil.

Water the sown seed bed immediately by a light shower using a watering can.

If seeds are sown on outdoor raised beds, protect them from heavy rainfall or direct sunlight by making a temporary roof plastic sheet for first few days.

Growth stages of Gongura (Ambadi) Plant:

Germination:

Seeds will germinate within first 6 days, or even earlier & tiny seedlings will be visible with first leaves.

Thinning: If more than one seed has germinated per hole, cut off the smaller seedlings & keep only one seedling per hole.

Baby Gongura plants will be visible in 10- 15 days.

Mature leaves will be ready to harvest in 30 days.

How to take care for Gongura (Ambadi) Plant:

Sunlight: Gongura requires partial sunlight of 3-4 hours. So place your containers accordingly. However, it can withstand full sun during winters.

Watering: Water your Gongura container / raised bed every day in the form of a light shower with a watering can. Sprinklers can be placed outdoors.

Manuring: As mentioned earlier, add good quality organic manure in the soil with 2:1 ratio before sowing seeds. Organic fertilizer can be well rotten cow dung manure, farmyard manure, compost or vermicompost.

Plant care: Always look for the early signs of any insect/fungal infection/ any other infections. Spray appropriate medicines as soon as any symptoms of such infections are spotted.

Microgreens: If you plan to grow microgreen Gongura leaves, grow it indoors in flat containers. Sow-scatter the seeds in a crowded manner. You can harvest it in 10-15 days by uprooting the baby plants.

Harvesting: About 25-30 days after sowing, Gongura can be harvested by cutting the mature leaves using a scissor and leaving the fleshy base of the plant for the next harvest. In this way you can harvest Gongura 4-5 times in the intervals of 20-25 days.

Note: Young leaves of plant look like spinach. Leaves should be harvested while they are young. If not regularly harvested, Gongura plant can become an erect bushy shrub.