====== Aibika ======

===== Botanical Information =====
^Botanical Information^^
^Order | Malvales|
^Family | Malvaceae|
^Genus | Abelmoschus|
^Common Name | Aibika, Sunset Hibiscus, Hibiscus Spinach|
^Species | manihot|

===== Maturity days =====
* First year (can be harvested within a few months of planting)

===== Planting Months =====
^Planting months^^^^^^^^^^^^
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|X    |X    | X    | X   | X   | X   | X   |X    |X    |X    |X    |X    |
X denotes planting month

{{tag>
january
february
march
april
may 
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
}}

===== Permaculture uses =====
^Permaculture uses^^^
| Usage 1| Usage 2 | Usage 3 |
| Pioneer| Shade, ground cover, chop & drop, bee food| vegetable, edible leaves|

===== Growing condition comments =====
^Growing Condition ^Comment^
|Drought Tolerant | Moderate (requires regular watering) |
| Humidity tolerant | Yes, thrives in humid conditions |
| Planting area | Garden beds, large pots |
|Sunlight | Full sun to partial shade |

===== Photos =====
^ Photos ^^^
| [No photos available] | [No photos available] | [No photos available] |

===== Recipes =====

|{{topic>PLANT_PAGE_NAME_recipe&simplelist&nodate&nouser}}|

===== Short comments =====
Aibika is a nutritious, fast-growing leafy green vegetable well-suited to Townsville's tropical climate.

===== General comments =====
=== Ecology ===
Aibika is a tropical plant that thrives in Townsville's warm and humid climate. It grows as a short-lived perennial shrub, reaching heights of 2-3 meters. The plant prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of sunlight conditions, from full sun to partial shade.

=== Uses ===
Aibika is primarily grown for its edible leaves, which are highly nutritious. It can also serve as a shade plant, ground cover, and bee attractor.

=== Food ===
The young leaves and shoots of aibika are edible and can be consumed raw or cooked. They are rich in vitamins A and C, iron, and protein. The leaves can be steamed, boiled, stir-fried, or added to soups. Large leaves can be used as food wraps.

=== Planting Depth ===
When propagating from cuttings, bury them about halfway (10-15 cm) into the soil or potting mix.

=== Inoculant ===
No specific inoculant is required for aibika.

=== Seed Saving Tips ===
Aibika is typically propagated from cuttings rather than seeds. If saving seeds, allow pods to dry on the plant before harvesting.

===== Tags =====
{{tag>
Malvales
Malvaceae
Abelmoschus
Aibika
Perennial
Bee_food
Full_sun
Wicking_bed
townsville_summer
Vegetable
Garden_bed
Shade
Ground
edible_leaves
}}