How do you grow perilla seeds, and which month is best for sowing?

Perilla is a common condiment we eat, generally an indispensable ingredient when stir-frying or making soup; it not only enhances freshness but also removes fishy odors. Generally, friends who often eat perilla at home will grow some perilla on the balcony or in the yard or vegetable plot, for convenient picking and eating. So do you know which time period is generally better for sowing perilla?

When to plant perilla (which month)

Generally, perilla is planted in spring. In southern regions, mid-March; in northern regions, it can be done in April, because the weather is still not very warm at this time, so after sowing it should be covered with film.

How to grow perilla seeds

1. Seed treatment and germination

Perilla seeds belong to the deep dormancy type. After seed collection, it takes 4 to 5 months before they can gradually germinate completely. If off-season growth is desired, low-temperature and gibberellin treatments can both effectively break dormancy. Treat freshly harvested seeds with 100 microliters/liter gibberellin and place them under low temperature of 3 degrees Celsius and light conditions for 5 to 10 days, then place them under 15 to 20 degrees Celsius light conditions to germinate for 12 days; seed germination can reach more than 80%.

2. Sowing

In the Jiangnan region, the best method for raising seedlings is sowing and raising seedlings in small arched sheds in mid-March. The seeding rate is 3 kilograms per hectare. Prepare the seedbed according to 8% to 10% of the planting area, and the seeding rate in the seedbed is 10 to 14 grams per square meter. Before sowing, the seedbed should be watered sufficiently with bottom water, the seeds should be evenly broadcast on the bed surface, covered with a thin layer of soil through which the seed grains cannot be seen, then evenly scattered with some rice straw, covered with plastic film, and then a small arched shed should be added to keep warm and moist; after 7 to 10 days, they will germinate and emerge. Pay attention to removing the plastic film in time and thinning the seedlings in time. Generally, thin the seedlings 3 times, with the standard being not crowded, and the seedling spacing is about 3 cm square. To prevent the seedlings from growing excessively into tall, leggy seedlings, attention should be paid to timely ventilation and air permeability. Entering April, the small shed film can be removed to promote sturdy plants and enhance their adaptability to the external environment after transplanting.

Field management

During the production period, apply urea 7 to 8 times in time according to growth vigor. Throughout the entire growth period, the soil is required to remain moist, which is beneficial to rapid plant growth. After transplanting, 20 to 25 days later, the first-stubble leaves should be removed, and the old leaves below the fourth node should be completely removed. Leaves reaching 12 cm wide above the fifth node are picked for pickling. Effective nodes can generally reach 20 to 23 nodes, and 40 to 46 leaves meeting export standards can be picked. Perilla has strong branching ability. Newly grown branches should be removed in time.

In management, special attention should be paid to timely removal of branches. Because perilla has strong branching ability, if branch shoots are not removed, it not only consumes nutrients and delays the growth of quality leaves, but also reduces the total number of leaves and lowers yield. Branch removal can be done at the same time as leaf picking and harvesting. For perilla in fields not kept for seed, before the plants begin to grow flower clusters in early September, keep 3 pairs of leaves and remove branches and pinch the growing tips; these 3 pairs of leaves can also meet the standard for finished leaves.

Pest control of perilla

1. Red spider mite: It is very likely to appear from June to August when the weather is dry and humidity is high. Adult red spider mites are tiny, generally orange-red, sometimes yellow. Red spider mites gather on the back of leaves and pierce and suck the sap. In the initial stage, yellow-white spots appear on the leaves, and later larger yellow-brown spots can be seen on the leaf surface. After the spots expand, the entire leaf turns yellow and the leaves then fall off.

Control method: Spray and kill early with 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 times dilution during the occurrence period. However, spraying must be stopped half a month before harvest to ensure no residual toxicity remains on the medicinal material.

2. Silver-striped noctuid: From July to September, the larvae harm perilla growth, and the leaves will be bitten into holes. The mature larvae make thin silk cocoons on the plants and pupate.

Control method: Spray with 90% crystalline trichlorfon at 1000 times dilution.

As mentioned above, I believe everyone has gained a certain understanding of growing perilla from seeds. Do you think perilla is especially easy to grow? In fact, perilla not only has high edible value, but also has certain medicinal value. Regular consumption can relieve the exterior and dispel cold, relieve cough and calm panting, resolve phlegm and remove blood stasis, and so on!