Grow: shiso

Shiso
Perilla spp

Height: 60-90cm

Width: 30-45cm

Sun: Full sun or part shade

Plant: 10-11 weeks from seed to harvest

Shiso is a low maintenance, productive Asian leafy herb with a unique citrusy, aniseed flavour. The plant has a bushy growth habit like basil, and is a light feeder that thrives best with regular watering, in full sun or part shade.

How to plant & harvest

Seeds have a hard shell so soak overnight before sowing. Seeds require light to germinate so don’t cover them, just press onto the soil surface. Grow shiso as an understory plant beneath taller plants or on its own in a pot. Harvest by snipping the stems then stripping the leaves to use. 

In warmer climates, shiso will grow as a perennial but in cooler climates, it will die off with the first frost. Let it flower and set seed, and it will self-seed year after year.

What to plant

In Korea, where it’s mostly referred to as perilla, they grow bigger, flatter and broader leaf varieties (Perilla frutescens). These varieties are stronger in flavour and commonly used to wrap grilled meat. In Japanese cooking, ruffled leaf varieties (P. frutescens var. crispa) are used. The green-leaf variety has a milder flavour often used to garnish sashimi. The purple/red leaf variety is used to add colour to umeboshi (pickled plum), or to make shiso juice.  

For more spring gardening inspiration get a copy of OG 160, available from selected newsagents or supermarkets. You can also subscribe and get the magazine delivered to your door.