Perilla Shiso Care - How To Grow Perilla Shiso Mint

Plant perilla seedlings 6 to 12 inches (15-30 cm.) apart in well-drained but moist soil with full to partial sun exposure or direct sow them in well-drained soil and lightly cover. The shiso seeds will germinate rapidly at 68 degrees F. (20 C.) or even a little cooler.

How do you take care of a shiso plant?

Shiso does best in full sun to partial shade, in fertile, well-drained soil. Allow transplants to become established, and then grow as you would basil — pinch growing tips regularly to produce bushier plants with more leaves. Water regularly, more so in hot weather.

Is Shiso easy to grow?

Shiso seeds are very tough and sturdy. You can just seed them in your garden where you want them to grow, but they may take a long time to germinate that way, perhaps 3 to 4 weeks, and quite a few of the seeds may fail. ... You can sow shiso indoors to give them a start.

How do you plant a shiso plant?

Shiso is typically started from seed. To improve germination, soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing, and then sow the seeds outdoors right in your garden or raised bed. The plant prefers full sun but isn't finicky about soil.

Does shiso grow back?

Shiso can be tricky to get going in your garden, but once it's growing, it is likely to self-seed and come back year after year. The plant does best in full sun and in well drained soil, but it is really not that picky and is a generally low maintenance plant.

Are shiso and perilla the same?

Perilla is actually the term for a number of different species of plants in the mint family. The Japanese use shiso, which is smaller and mintier than the broad, rounded perilla leaves favored by the Koreans. The flavor of perilla, grassy with notes of anise or licorice, is pleasing like any other herb.

What is shiso good for?

Health Benefits of Shiso

Having also been used as an herbal remedy in Japan for centuries, the herb's anti-inflammatory properties are used to treat everything from asthma, arthritis and eczema. The shiso leaves contain large amounts of calcium and iron, making them a great, healthy addition to salads, soups and stews.

Can you eat shiso leaves Raw?

Shiso comes in green or purple leaves with a slightly prickly texture and pointy, jagged edges, and it has a unique and vibrant taste that I could describe as herbaceous and citrusy. Like most leafy herbs, I find it is best used raw, the leaves whole or chiffonaded.

Is Shiso annual or perennial?

The plant occurs in several forms, as defined by the characteristics of their leaves, including red, green, bicolor, and ruffled. Shiso is perennial and may be cultivated as an annual in temperate climates.

How tall does shiso grow?

Plant form and size: Shiso is a bushy mass that grows 18 to 36 inches tall and resembles large basil or coleus.

Can you grow Perilla from cuttings?

Shiso roots very quickly from cuttings as long as you can get a healthy piece of plant, or you can even propagate one of your own in the future.

How long does it take to grow perilla leaves?

Harvesting perilla is an easy process. It can usually be harvested approximately eight weeks after planting. At this time, the plant should be around eight inches tall. If these two requirements are in order, you know your plant is ready for harvest.

Can I freeze shiso leaves?

Shred the shiso leaves and place them on the bottom half of a piece of paper towel. ... Fold the paper towel with the shiso inside a few times, put it in a freezer bag and freeze it. The frozen shiso leaves are hard and crunchy. They'll soften once they're thawed.

What does shiso taste like?

SHISO, an herb long used in Japanese cooking, is starting to show up in restaurants of all kinds whose chefs are captivated by its strong flavor. It has a mysterious, bright taste that reminds people of mint, basil, tarragon, cilantro, cinnamon, anise or the smell of a mountain meadow after a rainstorm.

Is purple shiso edible?

Regular, purple-leafed perilla is often used in making sushi or sashimi. I like the raw fish idea, because whenever I've cooked with purple shiso the color drains away, as with so many foods whose redness or purpleness is a fleeting, water-soluble compound.

Can you eat Perilla?

The flower spikes can be cooked in soups or deep fried to make delicious tempura. Perilla sprouts can also be cooked and eaten like a potherb. Lastly, the seeds can be toasted and used as a spice or as a source of oil. Though you should only eat perilla oil cold and never use it for frying.

Can you eat perilla seeds?

Perilla seeds are edible like sesame seeds and can be a nice pantry item to have after the plants are done for the season. Apparently, they have some medicinal properties too.

Are perilla leaves healthy?

Perilla leaves are used in Chinese medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments, as well as in Asian cooking as a garnish and as a possible antidote to food poisoning. Leaf extracts have shown antioxidant, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, anorexigenic, and tumor-preventing properties.

How do you eat purple shiso?

In Japan, Shiso is used for many purposes:

battered and served as tempura;
used in pickles such as Umeboshi;
the seeds can be used as a garnish;
leaves can be wrapped around sushi;
dried leaves can be powdered and used as a garnish;
oil can be distilled from the dried leaves (the oil is used in Korean cooking);

How do you eat shiso?

Shiso is best:

julienned and sprinkled on a simple citrus or mixed green salad.
tossed into a pot of your favorite green tea.
minced into or as a leaf wrap for tuna salad—shiso LOVES tuna.
chopped up with fresh fruit (plums, especially).
chopped up and added to roasted or stir-fried veggies.

What does shiso mean in Japanese?

ancestor, pioneer, founder.