About 500 seeds/g.
Both green and red shiso are highly aromatic and ornamental with frilly serrated leaves. Popular in Japan, the seeds, sprouts, leaves, buds and flowers are all used in cuisine. The seeds are part of Japan's famous seven-spice mix.
Culture: To break dormancy, freeze and thaw the seed several times over a 21–45 day period. Soak seeds several days or until they sprout. Move to indoor flats, then transplant into warm moist well-drained soil. Or direct seed, 1-3 seeds/inch, very lightly covered in soil. Grows to 2'. Absolutely intolerant of frost.
Culture: Wire hoops and row cover keep out flea beetles and are a must for pristine salad or braising mixes!
Diseases:
Major pests: Cabbage Looper, Diamondback Moth, Imported Cabbageworm
Cultural controls: control cabbage-family weeds near crop fields, till under crop debris of early-season brassicas after harvest.
Material controls: Spinosad, Bt.
Pest: Flea Beetle
Cultural controls: floating row covers, mulch with straw, time plantings for fall harvested crops only, crop rotation, perimeter trap cropping.
Material controls: Spinosad, Pyganic.
Pest: Cabbage Root Maggot
Cultural controls: time planting to avoid first hatching, use row covers, control weeds.
Major diseases: Black Rot, Alternaria Leaf Spot, Blackleg, Club Root, Downy Milldew, White Mold
Cultural controls: avoid transplanting plants with yellow leaves or v-shaped lesions, crop rotation, destroy crop debris after harvest, avoid overhead irrigation, control weeds, allow for good air movement.
Material controls: Copper.
Note: because of a rule issued by Oregon, we cannot ship brassica packets larger than ½ oz. (14 grams) into the Willamette Valley, except those that have tested negative for Black Leg and Black Rot. Check descriptions for information.
For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.