Shiso 'Red and Green Mix' Seeds

Shiso tastes like nothing else in the herb garden: somewhere between mint, basil and citrus, with a hint of cumin. This mix of Perilla frutescens gives both the green form and the purple-red form, with broad, deeply toothed, crinkled leaves. Green shiso is the leaf served with sushi and sashimi and wrapped around rice balls; the red form colours umeboshi plums and pickles, and both work torn into salads, noodle dishes and cocktails in place of mint. Grown together, the two colours make a striking pot.

Sowing and growing

• Soak seeds overnight, then sow indoors March to April at about 20°C
• Depth: sow on the surface or only just cover; light helps germination
• Germination: 7 to 21 days
• Plant out in early June once there is no risk of frost
• Position: sun to partial shade, in moist, well-drained soil or a 25 cm pot
• Height: about 40 cm; spread 30 cm
• Harvest: pick leaves from 6 to 8 weeks after sowing; pinch out flower spikes to keep leaves coming
• Lifecycle: half-hardy annual that often self-seeds

What you receive: a packet of about 150 open-pollinated seeds from Piccolo Seeds, with growing instructions on the back.

Shiso sits well alongside our exotic edibles, and you will find more culinary herbs in our seed range.