Culinary: shiso or perilla

Hi,

I live in Vancouver, BC and really want to grow perilla or shiso because I love the flavor it imparts in some dishes. I am a novice gardener and am curious to know whether it is possible to grow in Vancouver and whether anybody has experience cultivating it. Also, I was wondering if anybody could give me a local source as to where I may obtain the seeds/plant to propagate.

Thanks

 

Hi,
I don't know about Vancouver but shiso is very easy to grow, its like weed in my little garden, I only wanted to keep 4 plants but each year they came back hundreds from seeds. My little garden only get morning sun and i used fish emulsion fertilizer. I don't know if it's legal to send seeds, I have plenty to share...

 

Hi there,

Did you have any luck regarding the perilla? I just moved to Vancouver and am looking for the fresh leaves for cooking, or plants/seeds/seedlings for growing. Please let me know if you found any!!

 

Fujiya sells the leaves and they may have seed - I've seen them occasionally.
http://www.fujiya.ca/locations/

Stokes is only major seed supplier has perilla and they only have red perilla seeds:
http://www.stokeseeds.com/product.aspx?ProductID=39937&CategoryID=107

I came across Solana but have never done business with them - they have two green types:
http://solanaseeds.netfirms.com/welcome.html

My friend in Victoria grows shiso on his balcony without problems.

Good luck,
Colin

 

I'm in Vancouver as well, and am looking to grow Shiso/Perilla in my balcony next year.

It looks like AgroHaitai is Canadian and sells Shiso seeds: http://www.agrohaitai.com/herb/perilla/perilla.htm

I haven't bought any yet but probably will sometime this winter.

Happy gardening,
Beverly

www.beverlywu.com

 

red Shiso is a controlable weed. Green Shiso requires 75-80 degree temps to germinate. I grow both.

 

Hi Richard - if you are in the area and have or will have extra red shiso, I would love to buy some for pickling from you - or anyone else that has extra.