How to Grow Japanese Shiso Green
Perilla frutescens var. crispa
Japanese Shiso Green offers vibrant green leaves with a unique peppery flavor perfect for Asian cuisine. Gardeners prize this herb for its culinary versatility and ability to thrive in containers or garden beds throughout the warm growing season.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Japanese Shiso Green: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Japanese Shiso Green is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date once soil has warmed up; do not start indoors or transplant seedlings.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Since Shiso is a warm-season annual, sow seeds directly outdoors after all danger of frost has passed when temperatures are consistently mild. Press seeds gently into the surface but do not cover them deeply as they need light to germinate. Expect sprouts in 7 to 14 days.
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart to ensure good air circulation. Provide full sun to partial shade and keep soil moist with consistent watering, avoiding wetting the leaves excessively. Apply a light mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed lightly if growth seems sluggish after several weeks.
Watch for Japanese beetles, aphids, and flea beetles; hand-pick pests or use insecticidal soap early. Prevent bacterial leaf spot and downy mildew by ensuring good airflow and avoiding overhead watering in humid weather. Harvest leaves when plants reach maturity, typically 60 to 85 days after sowing, picking only what you need to encourage continued production.
When to Plant Japanese Shiso Green
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
Companion Plants for Japanese Shiso Green
✓ Good companions
Beans fix nitrogen in soil, benefiting shiso growth, while shiso repels bean beetles
Shiso helps repel cucumber beetles and improves overall garden biodiversity
Shiso deters flea beetles and other pests that damage eggplant foliage
Shiso provides light shade for lettuce while deterring pests like aphids
Both plants repel nematodes and various garden pests through natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting shiso
Mutual pest deterrence; shiso's strong scent helps protect peppers from insects
Shiso repels pests that commonly attack tomatoes, including hornworms and aphids
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of most herbs including shiso
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of nearby plants including herbs like shiso
Aggressive spreading nature competes for space and nutrients with shiso
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
