Oh hello there! Don’t mind me. I’ll just be over here plucking baby shiso plants from this raised bed for the next 100 years.

Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the raised bed with your progeny and govern it. Spill your seed over a 4 foot radius and push out every other seedling that dare try to grow within it.

I think those are the words…

This is what happens when you allow shiso (Perilla frutescens) to go to seed. This is what you can look forward to when you do not pluck every single flower it produces. Believe it or not I faced the exact scene last year. And chances are good that I will face it in the future. Once again, my gardening advice falls within the category of “Do as I Say, Not as I Do.”

Purple Shiso aka Perilla in bloom in the same raised bed shown above.

On the plus side it is a very pretty plant and the seedlings are edible. I wash all of the babies that I weed out in a salad spinner, roots and all. They make for a nice spot of colour and flavour alongside plain lettuce greens. In fact, this is what I had for lunch today.

Shiso taking over the beds alongside a walkway. I was so impressed by this scene, I had to stop and snap a few pictures.

More About Shiso

Growing From Seed: The above photos also serve as a demonstration as to why I always direct sow shiso seed. Many gardeners complain of poor seed germination, but that tends to occur indoors underneath lights. Most literature suggests direct sowing outdoors AFTER all danger of frost has passed, but I find that the seed knows when to come up and I’ve never had a problem sowing before. Plants drop their seeds the previous fall and never has any trouble surviving the winter no matter how harsh.

To ensure good germination, sow shiso seed on the soil surface and press in lightly. Do not cover with soil. These seeds require light to germinate, and I think that burying too deeply is the main cause of poor germination for most growers.

Grow in full sun where the soil is well draining. I want to provide more tips for you, but the fact is that shiso will thrive unassisted pretty much anywhere. I have spotted mature plants growing in sidewalk cracks, the spaces between pavers, in random pots, and gravel driveways. And even though it tends to prefer sun, I have come upon plants growing in the shade of much taller plants. Shiso is opportunistic and will happily occupy any space where it can get a foothold. This is a resilient herb!

How to Use Shiso aka Perilla

• My favourite way to use it is as a refreshing summer iced tea.
• Crumble dried shiso on top of warm rice.
• It is often used fresh as a garnish with sushi and wrapped around balls of rice or meat.
• Add fresh young leaves and seedlings to savoury salads.
• Tear young leaves on top of fruit salad.