Perilla Shiso Red

Perilla Shiso Red is an attractive and aromatic culinary herb that grows to a height of 60cm. It is also known as Japanese Perilla or Shiso. It is worth noting that Perilla is a very attractive plant that is often grown simply for its ornamental value. Both green and red varieties resemble a coleus plant.

It features attractive, reddish purple, serrated  leaves and a flavour that has been likened to a blend of coriander, cinnamon and citrus. It has been a  popular herb in Japanese cuisine for centuries and is an essential part of the famous seven spices of Japan. The beautiful, frilly, deep purple young leaves are added to salads, used to wrap sushi, and served with sashimi. Chopped Perilla buds are especially gorgeous and delicious and make a simple and striking garnish.

Germination rates can be improved by cold stratifying the seed prior to sowing. To do this mix equal parts of seed and damp sand in a container and store in the refrigerator (not freezer)  for one week.  Do not use sand that is dripping wet otherwise your seeds may rot.  Remove the container from your refrigerator and soak the contents in lukewarm water overnight before sowing out the seeds. This process tricks the seeds into thinking they’ve experienced a cold Winter and the warm water soak afterwards helps to speed up germination.

Red Perilla grows best when planted in a full sun location, but it will also tolerate light shade in very sunny regions. The seeds require light to germinate, so sow them no more than 3mm deep into the soil, cover them lightly with soil. Firm down the soil to prevent moisture loss which could dry and kill your germinating seeds. It grows best in soils which are free draining and can be a heavy feeder so be sure to dig lots of compost  prior to planting and fertilise monthly to maintain healthy growth.  It doesn’t like drying out so water it regularly and mulch around your plants to keep root systems cool.  Pinch out shoot tips to encourage your plants to become bushier.

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