How to Grow Perilla? A Detailed Guide to Perilla Cultivation Methods

As perilla enters the market, its cultivation has gradually transformed from a wild weed seen everywhere in the countryside into a large-scale commercial crop, and people are paying increasing attention to perilla breeding methods and growing techniques. Friends who are not yet familiar with it may as well learn about it together.

Perilla Cultivation Methods

Perilla is highly adaptable and has low soil requirements. It grows well in well-drained sandy loam, loam, and clay loam, in front of and behind houses, along ditches and field edges, and in fertile soil. The previous crop is best a vegetable. It can also be planted under young fruit tree groves. Sowing is done in spring, with a one-month difference between the north and the south: March in the south and mid-to-late April in the north. For direct sowing, drill in rows in the bed, opening furrows 2-3 cm deep at a row spacing of 60 cm, scatter the seeds evenly into the furrows, and cover with a thin layer of soil after sowing. For hole sowing: sow in holes with a row spacing of 45 cm and a plant spacing of 25-30 cm, covering with shallow soil. Water immediately after sowing to keep the soil moist. The sowing rate is 15-18.75 kg per hectare. Direct sowing saves labor, grows quickly, allows early harvest, and gives high yields.

Perilla has a relatively short growing period; the whole plant can be harvested 2 and a half months after transplanting, and since the whole plant is used as medicine, nitrogen fertilizer is the main type used. Apply fertilizer intensively before the rows close. For direct-sown and seedling-raised plots, apply topdressing when the seedlings are 30 cm tall, and loosen the soil and earth up to bury the fertilizer well. Apply fertilizer a second time before the rows close, using the same method as above. When harvesting perilla, choose a sunny day, as the aroma is stronger and drying is easier. For perilla leaves used as medicine, harvest should be carried out from late July to early August, before perilla flowers. While collecting seeds, pay attention to selecting and preserving good seed. Choose robust plants with high yields, wait until the seeds are fully mature before harvesting, dry them in the sun and thresh them for use as seed.

Harvest Standards for Perilla

To avoid bird damage and yield reduction caused by scattered seeds, harvest as soon as the top of the perilla plant begins to mature and the whole plant turns yellow with some leaves falling. Tie into bundles, gather them together, and dry them in the shade to promote after-ripening and increase yield. After they are completely dry, thresh by beating with a wooden stick on a concrete surface or tarpaulin until there is no soil or debris and the seed is clean after winnowing. Put it into woven bags and store in a dry, well-ventilated place.

When the stems turn yellow and a small amount of seed falls late when the plant is shaken, it can be harvested. Harvesting too early results in poorly matured seeds, low thousand-grain weight, and low oil content. Harvesting too late makes it very easy for the seeds to shatter and causes yield loss, so the harvest period must be well controlled. At harvest, cut from the root and tie into bundles. Spread out to dry in the sun and beat with a stick or flail. Perilla has relatively few pests and diseases; the main disease is rust, which easily occurs at the seedling stage. Infected cotyledons have orange-yellow spots on the back, and after they expand, the cotyledons split; in severe cases, leaves fall and seed setting is affected. Aphids are the most common pest; if they occur, ordinary aphid control agents can be used.

Perilla's Producing Areas

Perilla's producing areas are mainly located in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Jiangxi, Hunan and other central and southern regions, and the Himalayan region. Japan, Myanmar, the Korean Peninsula, India, and Nepal have also introduced this species, and it also grows in North America. Perilla is suitable for cultivation in cool temperate zones and has low soil requirements. It grows well at village edges and field edges, in well-drained sandy loam, loam, and clay loam, in front of and behind houses, along ditches and field edges, and in fertile soil.

Perilla Storage Methods

1. Refrigerator storage

For fresh perilla, wash it clean, let it dry slightly, put it in a fresh-keeping bag, and place it in the fruit and vegetable box of the refrigerator for fresh-keeping and cold storage. It can be kept for about a week.

2. Bottle storage

Perilla can also be stored like cut flowers: trim the ends of the stems and place them in a bottle filled with water. Cover loosely with a plastic bag; this will keep it fresh for at least a week.

3. Sun-dried storage

After washing perilla clean, pick off the leaves and spread them out in a cool, dry place. After drying in the shade, seal them in a fresh-keeping bag and store them in a dry environment.

4. Foam box storage

Put perilla leaves into a foam box and cover it to keep them isolated from oxygen in the air, inhibit aerobic respiration of the perilla leaves, and help preserve freshness.

Since perilla itself is a wild weed, its survival ability is very strong, its soil requirements are relatively low, and it is relatively easy to grow. In addition to requiring a certain amount of skill to grow perilla, the harvesting and storage of perilla are also important factors affecting the economic benefits of perilla cultivation.