When to Plant Perilla? A Detailed Explanation of Key Cultivation Techniques

AbstractDirect seeding: generally sown around Qingming, using drilling (open a shallow furrow 40 cm apart, 10 cm wide and 3 cm deep, and sow the seeds evenly into the furrow) or hole sowing (dig holes at a row spacing of 25-30 cm and a plant spacing of 25 cm). Seedling raising and transplanting: on the prepared seedling bed, scatter the seeds evenly into the furrow; after planting, place 2-3 strong seedlings in each hole in a triangular arrangement, then cover with soil and water. Daily management: loosen the soil and remove seedlings, apply topdressing at the right time, and irrigate and drain reasonably.

Speaking of perilla, I believe everyone is very familiar with it. When we often eat fish or some meats, we like to add perilla to remove fishiness and enhance freshness, and many people also like to stir-fry perilla to eat. Its consumption rate is very high. So do you know how to plant perilla? Let's learn about it together with the editor below!

When to plant perilla

Perilla is propagated by seeds, divided into direct seeding and seedling transplanting. Generally speaking, perilla is planted in spring. In the southern region, it is mid-March, while in the north 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 plastic film.

Perilla cultivation techniques

1. Direct seeding: generally sown around Qingming, using drilling or hole sowing. Drilling: on the prepared bed, open shallow furrows 40 cm apart, 10 cm wide and 3 cm deep, sow the seeds evenly into the furrows, cover with 1-1.5 cm of soil, press lightly so that the seeds and soil are closely combined, using about 0.5 kg of seeds per mu. Hole sowing: dig holes at a row spacing of 25-30 cm and a plant spacing of 25 cm; after sowing, cover with a thin layer of soil, using about 300 g of seeds per mu.

2. Seedling raising and transplanting: on the 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 scatter them evenly into the furrows, using about 1 kg of seeds per mu. After sowing, cover with a thin layer of soil, just enough to cover the seeds tightly. 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 high, thin them to maintain a plant spacing of 3-5 cm. When the seedlings are 10-15 cm high 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 in the afternoon of a sunny day. Water the seedling bed thoroughly 1 day before lifting the seedlings, so that the roots carry soil and are not damaged. Plant immediately after lifting. 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 into the holes and mix it evenly with the subsoil, then plant 2-3 strong seedlings in each hole in a triangular arrangement, cover with soil and water. About 10,000 seedlings are needed per mu.

Field management

1. Loosen the soil and remove seedlings. Weeds should be frequently removed before the plants grow to close the rows. In direct-seeded areas, pay attention to thinning and weeding. In drilled fields, when the seedlings are 15 cm high, thin to a spacing of 30 cm, and use the extra seedlings for transplanting. Plants in direct-seeded fields grow quickly. If the density is high, it causes excessive vegetative growth, with no branching or very few branches. In seedling fields, from planting to row closure, loosen the soil and remove weeds 2 times.

2. Topdressing. Perilla has a relatively short growth period. About two and a half months after planting, the whole plant can be harvested, and the whole plant is used as medicine, so nitrogen fertilizer is the main type. Apply fertilizer in a concentrated way before row closure.

When the seedlings are 30 cm high, apply topdressing. Open furrows between the rows and apply 1000 kg of human manure or 8 kg of ammonium sulfate and 10 kg of superphosphate per mu. Loosen the soil and earth up to bury the fertilizer well. Apply fertilizer once more before row closure in the same way as above. However, when applying fertilizer this time, be careful not to touch the leaves.

3. Irrigation and drainage. After sowing or transplanting, if it does not rain for several days, water in time. In the rainy season, pay attention to drainage, clear the working paths, and prevent water accumulation from causing root rot and leaf drop.

Main values of perilla

1. Perilla leaves have effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, inhibiting fungal growth, raising blood sugar, coagulating blood, promoting intestinal peristalsis, and calming and aiding sleep. They can treat conditions such as generalized rubella itching, common warts, uterine bleeding, and uterine prolapse, and can also be used in the treatment of conditions such as bronchitis and chronic tracheitis.

2. Perilla leaves have the effect of regulating qi and harmonizing the middle, and can also relieve depression and stop vomiting. For those with wind-cold exterior symptoms and also spleen-stomach qi stagnation, chest tightness, and vomiting, perilla can be used to help relieve symptoms. For those with a cold tendency, each dose of perilla leaves can be used together with Agastache rugosa; for those with a heat tendency, it can be used together with Coptis chinensis; for those with qi stagnation and phlegm binding, it is often used together with Pinellia ternata and Magnolia officinalis, with obvious effects.

3. Perilla leaves can also detoxify and are used to relieve abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea caused by eating fish and crabs. Used alone or decocted with ginger and Angelica dahurica, the effect is remarkable.

4. Perilla leaves are pungent in flavor and warm in nature, and can regulate qi. People often use perilla leaves to treat wind-cold common cold, aversion to cold and fever, cough, asthma, and other conditions. Perilla can disperse exterior cold and has a relatively strong diaphoretic effect. Used together with ginger, the effect is even better. It can also be taken together with bitter apricot seed, Peucedanum praeruptorum, and others. If there is also qi stagnation and chest tightness, it can be taken with Cyperus rotundus and dried tangerine peel, such as in Xiangsu San.

5. Perilla leaves can be used for vomiting during pregnancy, restless fetal movement, and chest and abdominal fullness and tightness. They are often used together with dried tangerine peel and Amomum villosum. After taking them, the effects of stopping vomiting and calming the fetus can be achieved. If pregnant women use perilla to stop vomiting and calm the fetus, they need doctor's guidance.

The above is the perilla planting method summarized for everyone by the editor. I hope it can be helpful to everyone! In fact, if perilla is consumed relatively often at home, you can choose to plant some perilla around March. The survival rate of perilla is very high, and it is especially easy to grow, so there is no need to worry that it will be difficult to grow!