Bicolor Shisho Seeds

Shisho, or Perilla, is a tasty Japanese herb similar to basil but much milder. It is often grown as a microgreen or baby green in the US. Delicate, serrated leaves are green on top and burgundy underneath.

Shisho will burn in the intense summer sun, in Zones 9 and 10, it is best grown during the coolers months of the year. If growing during hot parts of the year, provide partial shade.

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• Shisho is a tasty herb best grown during the cooler months of the year.

Zones 2-8

• Sow seeds 4-6 weeks before the last frost.

Planting Shisho Seeds

• Shisho seeds can be direct sown or transplanted. Regardless of how you begin, seeds should be planted into well-worked moist soil that is free of debris. Shisho seeds are small and should be covered with finely sifted soil for the best results.
• If you are starting basil in starter pots to transplant out, plant seeds on the top of moist high-quality seed starting soil and cover with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.
• If you are direct sowing the seeds, make sure you sow them in thoroughly moistened soil. Shisho thrives in full sun locations. Follow the same directions as above. Seeds must remain moist to germinate evenly and quickly.
• Once the seedlings have germinated and have a first set of true leaves be sure to fertilize regularly with an organic liquid fertilizer.
• Thin and space shisho plants to at least 2″ apart.

Growing Shisho

• Shisho is incredibly easy to grow. Plant your transplants out in the garden when they are 4-5″ tall. Make sure you space them at least 12″ apart. If you direct sow your seeds, thin accordingly. The thinned plants can be transplanted to another area of the garden.
• Keep your plants weed-free by pulling any weeds that may compete with your shisho.

Succession Planting Shisho

• If you enjoy large amounts of shisho, succession planting is a good idea. Start a new round of seeds every 14 days.

Growing Shisho in Containers

• Shisho is an excellent container crop. If you are planting shisho in containers, make sure your container is at least 10″ deep. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture.

Harvesting Shisho

• The key to happy shisho is to use it! Trimming shisho back often will slow its desire to go to flower. Harvest shisho often by cutting the top 1/4″ of the plant.

Southern California Pro-tips

• In areas of Zones 9 and 10, shisho is a very easy crop that will give you delicious foliage well into the fall.
• Prune heavily in late summer to get another flush of foliage in the fall.
• Mulch heavily around your shisho plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much. Compost added to the soil at the time of planting will help retain moisture in the soil during hot, dry weather.
• During our hottest months of August, September and October, plants can suffer from the heat. During this time using shade cloth can help protect the plants from extreme heat.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• This herb is very ornamental when it goes to flower. Interplanting it with your flowers is a great way to utilize space and create a beautiful and edible garden. Shisho looks particularly beautiful planted with alyssum and nasturtium. It may also be interplanted with tomato and cucumber crops.

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
• Having pest issues? Check out the in depth information for pests that can be an issue for garden herbs at the UC Integrated Pest Management site.