For those who prefer a non-standard style in the design of their garden, a herbal flower bed will be a real find. Filling your garden plot with herbs is an old tradition that is once again in fashion. If there is a free area in the garden, you can decorate it with a railing - a decorative spicy plant.
Culture description
The names "perilla" or "shiso" are known to very few people, not everyone has tried this fragrant and juicy greens. And in vain, because this plant is very useful to everyone without exception, because contains in its composition almost all the necessary micro and macro elements, an incredible amount of biologically active substances and vitamins. 
This spicy plant has come to us from Japan, where it has been grown everywhere for many hundreds of years. This is a perennial culture, having sown once, it will be possible to collect tender greens for a long time, which often grows up to 60 cm. Perilla is also used as a decorative inhabitant of the garden, since its leaves are multi-colored, maybe green, and red, and purple-pink .
Did you know? It is believed that perilla first began to grow in China and Japan. In Russia, it first appeared in the Far East, where it was brought from Northeast China. After that, they gradually began to grow the culture in the European part of Russia, in the North Caucasus, as well as in Ukraine.
Growing varieties
Most often, gardeners use varieties from Japan. SaOur most popular species are:
'Akajiso' ('Red Shiso') - Akashiso, or red leaf perilla; 
'Aojiso' ('Green Shiso') - Aoshiso, green leaf. 
They differ from other varieties of high and stable yield of green mass.
As for the Russian varieties, the vegetable Rosilla Rosinka is very popular. It is early ripening, tolerates cold well, and also has a long growing season, about 150 days.
Less popular, but still common, is the Covas Memory Sort. It is precocious compared to other varieties of this crop.
Perilla conditions
Perilla is an unpretentious plant both in cultivation and care. Her requirements are minimal, we will analyze them in more detail.
Lighting
The plant grows very well in temperate climate. It is better to plant it in the most lighted area of the garden, which is protected from excessive drafts.
Did you know? Perilla is valued not only in cooking, but also as an oil plant. Its seeds are composed of almost 45% quick-drying oil, which is used for the production of drying oil and varnishes, printing inks and fabrics that pass moisture.
Soil type
Any soil will do, but better yields will be achieved if you plant a crop in a nutrient soil rich in beneficial trace elements. It is also very important that the soil is loose, well breathable and moisture. 
Grow seedlings
Making a decision to cultivate vegetable perilla at home, one should sow the seeds for a start. When the seedlings grow up, it can be transplanted into open ground.
Seed preparation
To make seeds grow faster, it is recommended soak them in water for three days. Water should be clean, it should be changed every 2-3 days. Seeds should be as fresh as possible.
Important! Seeds that have been stored for more than 2–3 years after planting will yield zero germination.
Sowing rules
In the containers seeds need to be planted to a depth of about 5 mm. The soil itself is prepared from one part of peat and two parts of humus. If possible, you can add mineral fertilizers to the soil. It is very important to provide the plant with good drainage. To do this, you can use expanded clay.
Sow the seeds should be thick. In the process of growth weak shoots will be removed. The soil, after placing the seed in it, must be moistened and covered with foil.
Learn how to grow in the open field other spicy herbs: dill, parsley, cilantro, arugula, basil, fennel, chervil, peppermint, savory, oregano, anise, sage.
Further care
The first shoots appear in about a week and a half. Seedling does not require special care. It is enough to remove weeds that can grow in the soil, as well as remove weak, poorly developing shoots. 
As soon as two leaves are formed on the shoots, they can already be transplanted into open ground. It is best to do this in the beginning or in the middle of June, when there will definitely not be frosts.
Planting seedlings in open ground
When the seedlings grow, it can be transplanted into the open ground. The ideal temperature for a good growth of perilla is about from + 22 ° С to + 28 ° С. Plot need to pick up a sunny and windless.
Important! When transplanting seedlings should observe the distance between shoots of 20-30 cm, respecting the density of 25 bushes per square meter.
If there is an opportunity, it is better to choose a bed where beans, beans or peas grew last season. The soil should be dug up onto the bayonet of the shovel and additionally fed with compost (for 1 sq. M take 3 kg of compost). At the same time, half of the mixture must be applied immediately, and the second part after the perilla begins to actively increase the green mass. 
What care should be provided to the plant?
The basic care that perilla should provide is:
- Watering. Perilla tolerates a slight drought quite well, but if summer is especially dry, then the plant should be watered.
- Loosening. To loosen the soil should be very careful not to damage the root system of the plant.
- Feeding. As a fertilizer, you can use a small amount of dry chicken manure. It needs to be scattered under perilla bushes.
- Weeding. Clean the beds should be as needed. It is impossible to start the abundant growth of weeds, because they will take nutrients from the soil, perilla will grow slowly, slightly increasing the green mass.
Perilla is a beautiful and useful garden plant that will not only decorate the garden, but can also be used in cooking. It is unpretentious in care, so even a novice gardener can grow it.
