Annual, ornamental, culinary herb, suitable for growing in flower gardens and balconies. It's a beautiful dark purple plant reaching 40-60cm (15.7-23.6in) tall, with mint and cinnamon flavoured leaves, which are often called 'red mint'. Fresh and dried leaves goes well with beef and marinates, while adds a great flavour to rice dishes, salads, soups and garnishes. Fast and easy growing, with basic maintenance.
Growing: Planting season: year round in tropical climates; In temperate climates, sow early spring, indoors, 6-8 weeks prior the last frost; direct seeding after the last frost (May).
Soil: rich, fertile, well draining soil.
Sowing depth: sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the soil and barely cover.
Spacing: 12in (30cm) apart.
Light: full sun.
Watering: regular to keep the soil moist.
Fertilizing: optional.
Please note that one of the challenges in growing Perilla is to handle the seed germination issue. Perilla seeds have dormant characteristics and seeds will not germinate during this period. The dormant period can begin any time just after the fresh seeds harvested and may end within several months or more. Seeds will have good germination after this dormant period finished. The dormant period can be broken or shorten if the seeds will be kept inside the refrigerator from a few weeks to a month or so. Also, seeds require light to germinate and should be covered only with a very thin layer of soil when sowing. Soil should be kept moist at all times during the germination. For obtaining better and more uniform germination, it is suggested to soak seeds overnight before sowing. Germination takes 2-3 weeks to sprout.
