How to grow perilla seeds? A detailed guide to container growing techniques
Perilla is a food native to our country, and it is widely distributed across China. Its edible value and uses are extremely wide-ranging, so it is deeply loved by people. The survival rate after planting is generally very high, so many people grow some in pots at home, so they can pick a little whenever they want to eat it.
Perilla container growing techniques
1. Take an appropriate amount of perilla seeds and put them in a disposable plastic cup, add clean water and soak the seeds for about 4 hours first.
2. Use the time while the seeds are soaking to prepare the flower pot and soil. A flower pot with a diameter of about 20 cm is best, and the bottom must have drainage holes. The soil can be made by mixing 8 parts mature garden soil, 1 part decomposed organic fertilizer, 0.5 part compound fertilizer and a small amount of superphosphate.
3. Put the mixed soil into the flower pot, level the surface, then evenly scatter the soaked seeds on the soil surface, and then sprinkle a thin layer of fine soil on top. The thickness of this fine soil layer should be just enough to slightly cover the seeds; it must not be too thick.
4. Use a suitably sized piece of water-absorbent cloth, soak it with water and cover it over the fine soil, then spray water 6 to 8 times a day to keep it moist. They will sprout in about 12 days, and after sprouting the wet cloth should be removed promptly.
5. Next, pay attention to spraying a little water every day to maintain soil moisture, and also make sure to maintain good light. After about 26 days of growth, they can be divided and planted into separate pots.
6. The flower pots and soil used for dividing and planting can be the same as those used for raising the seedlings. Select relatively sturdy seedlings, and plant 1 per flower pot. After planting, remember to water once; this first watering must soak through, as this makes it easier for them to survive.
7. After that, as long as you pay attention to watering and light, perilla can grow vigorously. Remember, although perilla is heat-tolerant, you still need to provide appropriate shade during high-temperature weather.
How to grow perilla seeds
Raising seedlings and transplanting: On a prepared seedling bed, open shallow furrows horizontally at a row spacing of 15-20 cm. Before sowing, mix the seeds with burnt soil ash and evenly scatter them into the furrows, using about 1 kg of seeds per 667 sq m. After sowing, cover with a thin layer of soil, just enough to completely cover the seeds. After covering with soil, cover the bed surface with a layer of plastic film or rice straw, and remove the covering after the seedlings emerge. When the seedlings are 5 cm tall, thin them to maintain a plant spacing of 3-5 cm. When the seedlings are 10-15 cm tall and have 4 pairs of true leaves, they can be taken out of the bed for planting. Planting should be done on a cloudy day or on a sunny afternoon. Water the seedling bed thoroughly 1 day before lifting the seedlings, so the roots carry soil and are not damaged. Lift and plant them as you go. On the prepared bed, dig holes at a plant and row spacing of 25 cm × 30 cm, with a hole diameter and depth of about 10 cm each. First apply an appropriate amount of burnt soil ash in the holes, mix it evenly with the subsoil, then plant 2-3 strong seedlings per hole in a triangular arrangement, cover with soil and water. About 10,000 seedlings are needed per 667 sq m.
Perilla's growth habits
1. Perilla has relatively strong adaptability, but it is not cold-tolerant. It is more suitable for cultivation in warm areas, and it is very difficult to cultivate successfully in cold areas. Because curly-leaf perilla likes warmth, the most suitable sowing time in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River region is April. For sowing times in other regions, refer to the local climate characteristics.
2. Perilla is not strict about soil requirements. Both sandy loam and clay loam can be used for cultivation, and as long as it is fertile soil with good drainage, it can grow vigorously. Curly-leaf perilla also likes sunny or semi-sunny environments, so for indoor potted perilla it is best to place it on a balcony to ensure an average daily light duration of no less than 4 hours.
Perilla fertilizer and water management
Summer is the period of vigorous growth for perilla. Perilla has very strong branching ability, with an average of 25-30 branches per plant, 300-400 leaves, and as many as 3,500 flowers. Therefore, during the vigorous growth period there must be sufficient water, and quick-acting fertilizer should be applied 2-3 times, combined with foliar spraying of nutrient solution. For those harvesting tender leaves for eating, they can be picked at any time once the leaves reach a certain size, and the tops where flower bud differentiation has already occurred should be removed at any time so that they do not bloom, maintaining vigorous growth of stems and leaves. If grown for ornamental purposes, some stems and leaves should be appropriately removed to reduce the nutrients consumed by stems and leaves.
Perilla container growing techniques are very simple. When selecting seeds, choose ones of better quality, as this helps with the later survival rate. If the planting scale is relatively large, you need to make some preliminary preparations for fertilizing the land. In the later stage of planting, you also need to manage fertilizer and water well, so as to ensure its growth.