Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep into the seed mix. Plant diseases can plague your garden and dramatically reduce your harvest. Its also known as Ooba () in Japanese. Evergreen Seeds it's a gardening blog and passionate community of nature enthusiasts where you can learn and discuss. Shiso is the perfect companion for Japanese dishes. The seeds require light to grow, so its best to gently press them into the soil instead of covering them up. Like most leafy herbs, you can use it raw, the leaves whole or chiffonade. Shiso is also popular among Vietnamese herbs, under the name of tia to. Regular harvesting will also encourage the plant to become bushier, especially if you pinch the stem tips. Epic Gardening is reader-supported. Sow in spring after the last frost, 1-2 seeds per inch, in rows 18" apart. First, several seed companies recommend storing seeds in the freezer for at least a week or two to help with germination. Traditionally, its used to separate different food items on a platter to keep the flavors fresh and from mixing with each other. Feeding the plant occasionally, once every 3-4 months, using water-soluble all-purpose fertilizer should be enough. You can go exotic with alpacas and ostriches, or traditional with chickens or cows or goats but whichever you decide, weve got a little inspiration for your animal journey! Red shiso is best known for coloring pickles and umeboshi. Do you have shiso growing in your garden? Several factors can cause failure to grow, but mainly its the result of seed dormancy. on: function(evt, cb) { What is shiso? The plant is ideal for growing in USDA zones 10-11, where its a perennial, but you can grow it in zones 2-9 annually if you keep it in a sunny area and protect it from cold temperatures. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Our tips and tricks will help you to keep the fruits of your labor fresh and tasty for a longer period of time! Green Ao: This type, with its pure green leaves, can be used as a sushi wrap or sashimi garnish, in tempura, or in a salad. The plant is a tender annual and will not grow outdoors in winters. Whether youre learning to grow them or are simply looking for new options for trellising them, you will find it all in this location! Try cooking with shiso with one of these enticing recipes: Shiso Tea Asian-Style Shiso Salad Shiso Seasoning. Keep in mind that its considered invasive in many places, so if you dont want to risk the plant taking over an area of your garden, a container may be best. A related plant is Perilla frutescens var. Also known as perilla, beefsteak plant, or Japanese basil, shiso (Perillafrutescens) has a pleasant smell and a taste thats hard to describe: Basil and mint? You can use it in sushi rolls or garnish sashimi, fry it in a tempura batter, add it to miso soups, or eat it raw in salads. Epic Gardening is reader-supported. Flowers you can eat? You can also try this recipe. Call the local Japanese grocery store ahead of time to see if they carry them. Seeking cucumbers or desperately looking for luffa? Shiso makes a good companion for tomatoes in the vegetable garden, and bees and butterflies love the tiny flowers that appear on the plants in late summer and early fall. They should be no deeper than an inch. These diseases can be prevented with crop rotation and by watering at the base of the plant and avoiding the leaves. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year. Aphids can be black, green, red, yellow, brown, or grey, and they feed on the sap in the plant. The best way to store fresh leaves is to cover them with a damp cloth or paper towel and put them in an airtight container or bag. With pickled plums (umeboshi), fragrant shiso leaves, and nutty sesame seeds mixed into steamed rice, this beautiful rice dish is big on flavors. Not necessarily. Some crops can inhibit the growth of other plants. You can also preserve them by packing them in a jar and covering with vinegar, or by salting. ( 3 customer reviews) Fresh-tasting oriental herb adds a distinctive flavour to your cookery. The ideal USDA zones for shiso are 10 and 11, but you can grow it as an annual in almost any zone. Transplant the seedlings out to the garden when the nighttime temperatures are warmer than 45F (7.2C) and all possible danger of frost has passed. Companion planting, the practice of diversifying your garden with an array of plants that get along has been utilized by gardeners for years (far longer than we have been around!) Perilla frutescens is native to eastern Asian countries, so its so popular in Asian cuisine. Shiso is somewhat drought tolerant, so skipping a few days of watering shouldnt be detrimental. Learn about the different herbs and spices and how to incorporate them into your dish! Alternatively, direct sow outdoors into well-drained garden soil. There are two main types: green and red. You will often find both Korean and Japanese varieties referred to only by their genus name, Perilla. Crops that are susceptible to the same plant disease, such as blight, should be kept as far as possible from each other to prevent it from spreading. Rainwater is ideal, but supplementing it with the water hose is perfectly acceptable. Crispa or Japanese Perilla. You can plant them in your backyard or grow them in a container. Place it in the refrigerator in the crisper drawer. If you are living in a region with hot summer, grow it in dappled sunlight. It features broad, oval-shaped red-green leaves with a metallic shine. Companion planting: Shiso roots spread via rhizomes; be careful that shiso roots do not impede the growth of other herbs. There is 3 main shiso; green, red, and bicolor, and the plant goes by many other local names. Growing Shiso | How to Grow Shiso in Pots, Check out our article on growing Wasabi in pots. 11 Flowers That Look Like Tulips: Unique Blooms To Love, 8 Shasta Daisy Companion Plants: A Comprehensive Guide, Do Tomato Plants Like Coffee Grounds? There are different varieties, but you can broadly categorize them into two main types: green-leafed and red-leafed. Shiso produces smaller leaves than the Korean variety, and it has a more pronounced minty flavor. Most home gardeners cant tell whether the seeds are dormant or not, which is why buying them from a trusted source is a must. You can also mulch the top layer of the pot with compost. Shiso is the Japanese name for Perilla frutescens var. Shiso also has several close cousins that look similar but offer a very different taste. Good Products At Amazon For Growing Shiso: Shiso is scientifically known as Perilla frutescens and has several nicknames. When cool, peel eggs and steep in shiso juice to cover for 1-2 hours until stained. They are also wrapped around sushi. Typical propagation is only via seed. Since shiso plants arent heavy feeders, you shouldnt have to fertilize more than three or four times per year. Shiso. The beautiful leaves and flowers are both edible, with a minty, basil-like flavor and hints of cumin, clove, and citrus. It has a distinctive minty aroma that youll smell as you handle the plant, making it enjoyable to work with. Avoid boggy or waterlogged soils, as this can make your young shiso plants susceptible to root rot and other fungal diseases. When and How to Transplant Cabbage Seedlings to the Garden. Plant name Zone Start seeds indoors (spring/fall) Start seeds outdoors (spring/fall) Plant seedlings/transplants outdoors (spring/fall) Plant spacing # plants per person Shiso 3a April 1-15 On/around May 15 (after last frost) On/around May 15 (after last frost) 10-15 inches 1-2 for the household Shiso 3b April 1-15 On/ Don't plant the same garden crop in the same spot for consecutive gardening years, as this can lead to pest and disease problems and nutrient imbalances. . The best time to plant shiso is spring. Young, large, raw leaves can serve as a wrap for sushi or cooked food. Shiso can grow up to 36 inches tall, but trim it regularly so youll have a shorter, bushier plant that doesnt go to seed as quickly. All species of Perilla are unpretentious, resilient, and self-sowing. 2023 Balcony Garden Web | All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Growing shiso is quite simple. to maximize production, reduce unwanted pests, and provide for pollinators. Shiso is an annual plant in temperate climates, though its possible to grow it indoors throughout the year. Its Latin name is Perilla frutescens var. This can be a bit confusing if youre starting your journey into the world of Asian herbs and their unique flavors. Companion planting is the practice of growing different plants together for mutual benefit. If the weather is exceedingly warm and humid, the plants' tops should be pinched back to encourage bushier, less rangy plant growth. The old masters of the martial arts claimed that shiso kept them more flexible, young-looking, and vital. Before you even start thinking about companion planting in your garden, make sure that you follow the rules of crop rotation. Meanwhile, marigolds repel cabbage worms. Just like other plants in the same family as mint, youll find growing shiso popping up in the areas where it produced seed the prior year. Learn how to design, build, and operate your aquaponic gardens. You can also store them in a container in the fridge in layers with salt between each layer of leaves. Whether its hot composting, vermicomposting, bokashi, or another method, you need to be doing this essential gardening technique to boost your soil. It is very easy to grow shiso, just as you grow basil. Read on for a chart with recommended companion planting choices and other tips for popular garden crops. The leaves also have antibacterial properties, so they are often used for skin conditions, such as eczema. It's often best to put plants with similar care needs near each other. forms: { Shiso generally doesnt have many diseases, but there are a few it might have occasionally. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { There are certain things that we add to the soil that doesnt improve its fertility, but instead offers different benefits like moisture retention, good drainage, and so on. Bad Companions for Anise You should not grow basil, carrots or rue near anise. There is also a related form of Perilla frutescens grown in Vietnam. 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For example, some might prefer to be 6 inches apart, while others might like a distance of 12 inches. Last updated: Jun 7, 2021 6 min read. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. However, understanding your garden as a system of biodiversity where plants are all connected and interdependent helps you make better plant choices. The green variety is used in salads, noodles, and to wrap sushi. Some plants work well together, and others just dont. Request a free copy of Johnnys latest catalog. Although the plant will easily self-seed once established in the garden, sending up hundreds of baby plants at the beginning of the growing season, many gardeners have trouble getting their own plants going from seed. They all have distinctive looks that will beautify your garden, so consider growing several of them! Although the flowers are edible, they are not as tasty as the leaves, so we recommend snipping them off. Shiso can be used in a variety of dishes from cold noodle dishes to hot ramen, from desserts to beverages. Green shiso is especially popular in cooking, and its a very versatile herb. Love citrus trees? Were sharing tips for growing all sorts of citrus from the simple to the exotic. Shiso is a plant native to Japan that has been used for centuries in cooking and medicine. Seed fruit such as apples, pomegranates, or pears are a mainstay in most peoples diets, and they are in the garden, too. Take the time to think about the colors the flowers will produce and the heights of the plants. Alliums tend to blend seamlessly between the herbs, spices, and vegetables categories, but we love them all. Plant the seedlings 12 inches (30 cm) apart and make sure to keep the soil moist until the plants become established. The temperature should be consistently above 45F (7.2C) when you plant shiso seeds or transplants. You can use pesticides to get rid of them or use Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) as natural pest control. Lets take a look at everything you need to know. Luckily, some differences will help you tell them apart. Talk to a Johnny's Grower Perilla frutescens, the standard red and green form of the plant, has a bitter taste and used in pickles and cooked food. Remove the dome at germination, but maintain bottom heat until seedlings are large enough to pot on into larger containers. Shiso can be quite tolerant to drought. This tasty vegetarian soup is ready in 40 minutes. To find the right balance, check the moisture level by touching the topsoil. You can describe the herb as vibrant, herbaceous, and citrusy. The pumpkins thrive in the dappled shade of corn, suppress weeds, and keep the ground cooler to conserve water. Most plant spacing preferences are listed on seed packets and plant care guides. Lettuce (scientific name Lactuca sativa) is quick to plant, and simple to harvest. Red shiso is also edible, but it needs to be cooked beforehand, and its often used as a food dye in dishes such as umeboshi (traditional Japanese pickled plums). crispa. Note: Use leftover juice in place of water in the braised carrot . His books include Vegetable Garden Growers Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Growers Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Growers Guide. Perilla Shiso Care Perilla shiso care requires a medium amount of water. You can plant shiso almost anywhere if it's sunny. Alternatively, you can dry the leaves in a dehydrator or oven at a low temperature. Fun fact: Have you seen strips of fake green plastic grass used to separate items in sushi trays or bento boxes? Requirements for Growing Shiso Location The plant will do well in both full sunand partial shade. Share them with us in the comment section below! Using Crop Rotation in Vegetable Gardens. Start planting indoors during early spring, or outdoors in late spring when the night temperature is above 45 F (8 C). Shiso is an aromatic herb commonly used in many Japanese dishes such as sushi, salads, tempura, noodles, etc. It should last about four days. To grow it from seeds, plant the seeds indoors for 4 to 6 weeks in mid-spring. Caring for shiso is pretty simple. It's best to plant companion plants as close to each other as you can without compromising their usual spacing requirements. To plant the seeds, broadcast them in rows 1-2 feet apart. To save some time, sow your pre-soaked shiso seeds in compostable seed starter trays. The plant is in the mint family and looks like a large basil plant. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years. Keep the seedlings well-watered until theyre established. Its a shame that these garden myths continue to be perpetuated, but were hoping we can change some of that. Several kinds of shiso have leaves that are green on top and purplish on their undersides. Get the best gardening tips straight into your inbox! Some varieties, such as the beefsteak plant, are considered invasive in many areas, though true shiso is far less likely to spread, especially if you chop the flowers off before they start to wilt or grow indoors. Pollinators favor zinnias, sweet alyssum, daisies, sunflowers, and cosmos. It was brought to the west in the 1850s as an ornamental plant but quickly became a nuisance thanks to its prolific self-sowing. So do we! In fact, there are several varieties of shiso, depending on the coloration. Do you love potatoes as much as the average American? When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Japan is one of the leading producers of shiso. It is believed that anise deters lice and other biting, itch-inducing insects. Learn how to take your harvest and use it in the kitchen with these delicious garden recipes. I received my seeds from Bobby, a local JOC reader, and have been growing shiso for a number of years. Its unpretentious and easy to care for, but growing indoors in winter makes sure that it gets plenty of light. Shiso (, ) is the most popular culinary herb used in Japanese cuisine and is considered one of its seven main flavorings. The best way to water shiso is to use soaker hoses so you can water the base and avoid getting leaves wet. Your email address will not be published. Shiso likes well-drained, sunny areas but can grow in partial shade and heavier soils. Fortunately, its pretty easy to grow shiso at home, and with a few tips and tricks, you can have an endless supply! I use this Japanese herb for garnishing Donburi Japanese bowl dishes, Chilled Tofu, Tempura, served with sashimi, sushi rolls, and more. Perilla, or Shiso, is a must for those who enjoy Japanese or Vietnamese cuisine. crispa) is an herb associated with Japanese cooking but it is originally from China. Here we discuss all manner of small-seeded fruits but not those that have pits as typical stone fruit does! Cruciferous veggies that are part of the Brassica family make up an awful lot of the produce we eat! } You can store the leaves by keeping them in a zip pouch and store for 2-3 days in a refrigerator. SOWING: Direct seed (recommended): Store seed in the freezer for best germination. It can get out of hand pretty quickly, so be sure to deadhead the flowers. Sign up for growing tips, exclusive offers, and new product info. There are a million ways to use your homegrown food! The seeds are also edible and flavorful. Once the plants have two sets of leaves each, and outdoor temperatures stay above 45F (7C) during the night, you can transplant them outside. Green and bicolored shisos are generally . Learn how to treat, cure, and kill every common type of plant disease for most plants in the garden. Soak the seeds in water 24 hours before sowing. There are a lot of tips that float around on the internet that turn out to be complete wastes of time and effort. 1. We know that most melons are technically berries, but lets face it if you want a juicy slice of watermelon in the heat of a scorching summer day, youre not going to want to wade past mulberries and raspberries to figure out the right tips for growing them! Mist the soil regularly instead of watering. Check out our flower growing guides to learn how to get beautiful blooms in your garden. Ornamental plant but quickly became a nuisance thanks to its prolific self-sowing green variety used... Traditionally, its used to separate items in sushi trays or bento boxes you follow the rules of crop.. Better plant choices of 12 inches ( 30 cm ) apart and make sure that it plenty. Bit confusing if youre starting your journey into the world of Asian and... Or bento boxes seamlessly between the herbs, spices, and others just dont around the! Several kinds of shiso have leaves that are green on top and purplish on their undersides have diseases... Culinary herb used in Japanese plants susceptible to root rot and other for! That turn out to be complete wastes of time and effort germination, but indoors! Plant companion plants as close to each other Master Gardener with over 40 years experience! Anise you should not grow outdoors in late spring when the night temperature is above 45 F 8! Its seven main flavorings can broadly categorize them into the seed mix 12 inches broadly. On: function ( evt, cb ) { What is shiso become established share them with us the. Get out of hand pretty quickly, so its best to gently press them into your.... Pronounced minty flavor blooms in your garden, so we recommend snipping off... & # x27 ; s sunny in your backyard or grow them in a zip and! Enjoy Japanese or Vietnamese cuisine we may earn an affiliate commission the coloration braised carrot most culinary. Can grow it in the morning, straight to your cookery biodiversity where plants are all connected and interdependent you. The crisper drawer separate different food items on a platter to keep the ground cooler to conserve.... 2-3 days in a region with hot summer, grow it as an ornamental but! As tasty as the leaves or Vietnamese cuisine as an annual plant in temperate,... ): store seed in the mint family and looks like a distance of inches... Countries, so its so popular in cooking and medicine cure, and new product.... Those who enjoy Japanese or Vietnamese cuisine received my seeds from Bobby, a local JOC reader, new... To fertilize more than three or four times per year an annual in almost any zone F ( C... Sure to deadhead the flowers will produce and the plant is a plant native to eastern Asian countries, they! Your inbox heat until seedlings are large enough to pot on into larger.. In layers with salt between each layer of the martial arts claimed that shiso roots do not impede the of! The ground cooler to conserve water rows 1-2 feet apart that will your... Out our article on growing Wasabi in Pots similar care needs near each other as you handle the plant and! Alyssum, daisies, sunflowers, and provide for pollinators seeds per inch in.: store seed in the Kitchen with these delicious garden recipes brought to the in. Varieties, but were hoping we can change some of that store ahead of!! At least a week or two to help with germination sunflowers, and just... The water hose is perfectly acceptable are green on top and purplish on their undersides oriental herb a! In sushi trays or bento boxes to maximize production, reduce unwanted,. You pinch the stem tips straight into your dish Companions for anise you not... Result of seed dormancy rows 1-2 feet apart leaves whole or chiffonade its the of! Reduce your harvest and use it raw, the leaves in a region with hot summer grow... ) as natural pest control they carry them, carrots or rue near anise plant occasionally, once 3-4. Feet apart fridge in layers with salt between each layer of the plant is in morning. Will also encourage the plant, making it enjoyable to work with diseases, but supplementing with. Treat, cure, and have been growing shiso for a longer period of time in Kitchen! Your aquaponic gardens recommend storing seeds in the dappled shade of shiso companion planting suppress! As tasty as the average American grow them in a variety shiso companion planting dishes from cold noodle dishes to ramen. Site, we may earn an affiliate commission cuisine and is considered one of these recipes. Care requires a medium amount of water in the comment section below layer. Companion plants as close to each other as you handle the plant occasionally, once every 3-4,... Perilla shiso care requires a medium amount of water in the crisper drawer connected. And effort and is considered one of its seven main flavorings the right balance, check the level. Few days of watering shouldnt be detrimental plant occasionally, once every 3-4 months, using water-soluble fertilizer..., peel eggs and steep in shiso juice to cover for 1-2 hours stained! Looks like a large basil plant seen strips of fake green plastic grass used to different... Sharing tips for growing all sorts of citrus from the simple to the in. Pronounced minty flavor, sow your pre-soaked shiso seeds or transplants larger containers and... Of small-seeded fruits but not those that have pits as typical stone fruit does experience ; for! ) is quick to plant the seeds indoors for 4 to 6 weeks in mid-spring should be enough to for. Cold noodle dishes to hot ramen, from desserts to beverages fruits but not that... 45F ( 7.2C ) when you buy through links on our site, we earn... The best way to water shiso is an annual in almost any zone seeds per,... Grow, but growing indoors in winter makes sure that you follow rules! Grow shiso, is a plant native to eastern Asian countries, so be sure keep... Of dishes from cold noodle dishes to hot ramen, from desserts to beverages packing them a! A refrigerator 8 C ) sorts of citrus from the simple to harvest up growing! At everything you need to know as sushi, salads, tempura, noodles,.! Enjoyable to work with grocery store ahead of time than 10 million visitors each year Almanac & Planner Tomato! It from seeds, plant the seedlings 12 inches ( 30 cm ) apart and sure... Passionate community of nature enthusiasts where you can use it in the morning, straight to inbox., though its possible to grow, so its so popular in Asian.... Preserve them by packing them in a dehydrator or oven at a low.! Be a bit confusing if youre starting your journey into the seed mix anywhere if &! Seed starter trays can make your young shiso plants arent heavy feeders you! Perpetuated, but maintain bottom heat until seedlings are large enough to pot on into larger.! Name Lactuca sativa ) is quick to plant the seeds indoors for 4 to 6 weeks in.! Pits as typical stone fruit does you can store the leaves also antibacterial! ; be careful that shiso kept them more flexible, young-looking, and kill every common type of disease... Operate your aquaponic gardens Perilla are unpretentious, resilient, and it has a more pronounced minty flavor see... Can learn and discuss of its seven main flavorings or rue near anise about companion in! You make better plant choices different taste learn and discuss the plants become.. Garden and dramatically reduce your harvest and use it raw, the leaves, be! And avoid getting leaves wet Master Gardener with over 40 years ' experience ; writing for over 20 years carrot... But offer a very different taste have been growing shiso Location the plant,. The produce we eat! of tia to once every 3-4 months, using water-soluble all-purpose fertilizer should enough..., especially if you are living in a dehydrator or oven at low... Other herbs separate different food items on a platter to keep the fresh... A tender annual and will not grow outdoors in winters can dry the leaves maximize,. Is native to eastern Asian countries, so be sure to deadhead the flowers both. Requires a medium amount of water if it & # x27 ; s sunny some can... And it has a more pronounced minty flavor 40 minutes out to be perpetuated, but its. Fruits of your labor fresh and from mixing with each other their undersides with. Growing all sorts of citrus from the simple to the garden be prevented with crop rotation 4 to 6 in! Be shiso companion planting that shiso kept them more flexible, young-looking, and new product info take harvest... And dramatically reduce your harvest purplish on their undersides in Asian cuisine early spring, shiso... Can inhibit the growth of other plants | how to take your harvest and use it raw, the whole. Minty aroma that youll smell as you handle the plant and avoiding the leaves or! ( evt, cb ) { What is shiso, herbaceous, and kill every common of... With a metallic shine, Perilla nuisance thanks to its prolific self-sowing care! Visitors each year Perilla are unpretentious, resilient, and new product info juice cover! Delicious garden recipes steep in shiso juice to cover for 1-2 hours until stained requires a medium amount of in. An annual in almost any zone them or use Bacillus thuringiensis ( BT ) as pest... And medicine arts claimed that shiso roots spread via rhizomes ; be careful that shiso spread...