Perilla originates from Japan. In our climate it's an annual. It is a member of the mint family that is used in sushi, to color dishes red and to give flavour to various Japanese dishes. The leaves of this plant are brownish red and slightly incised. It also has a beautiful shine. It's therefore also a beautiful plant to see that wouldn't look out of place in the ornamental garden.
Use the leaf as a garnish with Japanese dishes. The young leaves can be used in salads. The flowers can also be eaten.The leaves of the plant can also be used to make a herbal tea or make a tincture. The tincture would then reduce fever and is antispasmodic and expectorant. Non hardy Annual. Height: 60 – 100 cm.
Soaking: 24 hours
Indoor sowing: February - April
Germination: 5 - 14 days
Germination temperature: 20 - 22 °C
Sowing depth: 2 - 3 mm
Plant distance: 45 - 60 cm
Planting position: sunny - half shade
Harvesting period: May - August
Sow indoors from February on. Use seed trays filled with moistened potting soil mixed with some perlite or vermiculite. Sow thinly and shallow. Press the seeds gently onto the soil, and cover them lightly with some sieved potting soil. Perilla is a light germinator. Moisten the seed gently with a plant sprayer so as not to disturb the seeds. Cover the trays with a lid to keep the moisture in. Keep the germination temperature as even as possible and don't let the temperature drop, especially at night.
Remove the lid as soon as the seedlings emerge. Transplant the seedlings into separate pots, as soon as they're large enough to handle. Place them outside, in early May, during the day for about 10 - 14 days in a sunny and sheltered place to harden off. After this, the plants can be placed outside in a sunny to semi-shaded spot with shelter from the middle of May, as soon as there's no longer a risk of night frost. Keep them 45 - 60 cm apart.
Provide sufficient water, especially during germination and during drought. In any case, never let Perilla dry out. Pick the leaves by cutting the stems from the ground, always leaving about half of the plant to continue growing. Perilla especially needs a lot of light, heat and water for optimal growth. A minimum of 5 - 6 hours of sunlight is necessary for healthy plants.
