Also called Japanese basil or beefsteak plant. Its incredible flavor resemble a mix of cinnamon, mint, and cloves. Young leaves are harvested and used in salads in asian cuisine. Can be a perennial depending on the region. Difficult to germinate.
Scientific Name: Perilla frutescens
Plant Life Cycle: Annual
Optimal Germination Temperature: 22°C
Germination time in days: 10-21 days
Indicative Days to maturity: 80-85 days
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil requirement: rich, well-drained soil (Clay, Chalk, Sand, Loam / Alkaline, Neutral, Acid / Well-drained)
Sowing and cultivation: Start your seeds indoors four to six weeks before last frost. Soak the seeds before planting for 24 hours in tepid water. After soaking, sow the seeds on the surface of the compost and press gently to ensure full contact with the soil. They need light to germinate.. Keep soil at a temperature of 24C. Keep soil moist rather than wet by spraying a bit of water when soil is drying. Pinch the growing tips to promote bushier plants when the seedlings have reached 6 inches high. Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and space 12 to 15 inches apart.
