A Detailed Guide to Perilla Planting Methods, Timing and Precautions

Perilla, also known as guiren, white perilla, red perilla and so on, has a special fragrance and is a multipurpose plant that can be used for medicine, oil, spice and food, with very high economic value. China has a long history of cultivating perilla, and perilla has strong adaptability to the environment, so what are the planting methods and timing for perilla? What precautions are there?

1. When is the planting time for perilla?

Perilla is usually sown around March and April in spring. At this time the temperature begins to rise and there is sufficient rain, which meets the requirements for perilla growth, so the seedling emergence rate is extremely high. When sowing, we also need to pay attention to the sowing method. The most common methods are broadcasting and drilling. For broadcasting, care must be taken to gently press the broadcast seeds into the soil, and they must be spread fairly evenly; otherwise the seedlings will not emerge uniformly, which increases the workload of later management. For drilling, care must be taken with the furrows, and the spacing between each furrow should be about 20 to 25 cm, which facilitates later field operations.

2. Perilla planting methods and precautions

1. Perilla planting methods

Perilla planting can generally use the furrow sowing method. Before planting, apply a certain amount of organic fertilizer to the soil, but it must be well fermented. When sowing, first draw several rows of small furrows on the soil surface, with the small furrows no deeper than 1 cm and spaced 10 cm apart. Then water inside the small furrows, watering as much as possible so that the seeds have sufficient water to absorb. After that, scatter the seeds in the small furrows at a seed density of one seed per 0.5 cm, and finally cover the seeds with 0.5 cm of semi-dry fine soil. The sowing process is then complete.

If the weather is dry when sowing in spring, a layer of plastic film can be covered on the soil surface after sowing, which can effectively keep warmth and moisture. Remove the film after the seedlings emerge.

2. Precautions for perilla planting

(1) Soil

Perilla has a very strong ability to adapt to the growing environment, but the choice of planting site is a basic condition for high perilla yields, so we can choose the soil most suitable for its growth according to perilla's growth habits. It is best to choose sandy soil or loam with sufficient light, rich organic matter and a well-developed drainage and irrigation system. What must be noted is not to plant in soil with very heavy clay, as perilla will grow very poorly there.

(2) Temperature

In fact, the perilla we see also has quite good cold resistance, but perilla is actually a warmth-loving plant. Although it can grow at lower temperatures, its growth speed and quality will not be very good. In order to improve perilla's yield and quality, we need to manage the field temperature during planting. The most suitable temperature for perilla growth is about 16 to 22 degrees. It can tolerate low temperatures, but the temperature must not be lower than 1 degree, otherwise it will stop growing or even freeze to death.

(3) Fertilizer and water

The roots, stems and leaves of perilla can all be used as medicine. Our main purpose is to promote the growth of the whole plant, and the most important fertilization for perilla is the base fertilizer, mainly farmyard rotted manure, while later topdressing is mainly nitrogen fertilizer. During its entire growth process, generally two to three topdressings are needed, mainly based on the growth of the perilla seedlings, to increase perilla yield. Next, attention must be paid to water management. After sowing, water once, and the soil must be thoroughly watered. Then, after the perilla seedlings emerge, water once. Then water once after transplanting. Finally, water and drain according to perilla's water needs and rainfall conditions.

(4) Pests and diseases

The most common disease of perilla is rust, a fungal disease caused by excessive water in the field and failure to drain it in time. It mainly harms the leaves of perilla, but the plant will also be affected by the disease, eventually turning yellow and gradually rotting, and it is highly contagious. Therefore, in the early stage of the disease, the diseased plants must be removed in time and disinfected. Finally, use disodium edetate and 0.2—0.3 degree lime sulfur mixture for control. Its most common insect pests include beetles, moths and stem borers. For these relatively common pests, we can use dimethoate EC, trichlorfon and sumithion respectively for control.

3. What varieties of perilla are there?

Perilla includes two varieties: curly-leaf perilla, also called huihui perilla and cockscomb perilla; and pointed-leaf perilla, also called wild perilla. Among cultivated varieties in various places, curly-leaf perilla is more common, and garden cultivation also has ornamental value.

Perilla is cultivated sporadically in all parts of China, and the varieties used are farm varieties with a long history. By leaf color, they can be divided into red perilla and green perilla (green leaves); by maturity, they can be divided into early-, mid- and late-maturing varieties; and by use, they are divided into sprout perilla, leaf perilla and ear perilla.