Additional information
| When to sow | Autumn, Spring, Summer, Winter |
|---|
Shiso Red
$4.80/250 seeds
(Perilla frutescens)
Shiso, or Perilla, is a fragrant Asian herb from the mint family known for its distinctive, complex flavor that can be described as a mix of mint, basil, anise, and citrus with hints of cinnamon or clove, depending on the variety. Available in green and red varieties, shiso is used in Japanese and Korean cuisine as a garnish, wrapping, or flavoring for dishes like sushi, sashimi, tempura, and pickles. The plant itself is an annual herb in temperate climates, growing in sunny or partially shaded spots and producing spiky, white-to-purple flowers in late summer. Red shiso (or purple shiso) is thicker and the more bitter of the two. It is often used to color foods and for pickling, lending its deep color to Japanese pickled plums and even neon-pink shiso juice.
Colour Difference? Green shiso has a refreshing, bright citrus-mint-anise flavor, while red shiso has a more earthy, spiced, and slightly bitter or astringent taste. The primary difference is their culinary use: green shiso is a common garnish and ingredient for dishes, whereas red shiso is mainly used to impart its vibrant red color to foods like umeboshi (pickled plums) and to make shiso juice
>>These seeds are not grown by us<<
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Additional information
How to Grow Spinach
To grow spinach, sow seeds directly into fertile soil, planting them about 8cm deep and 15cm apart, then keep the soil consistently moist. Spinach is a cool-season crop that bolts in heat, so plant in the spring before the last frost or in the fall. Water regularly, keep the area weed-free, and thin seedlings as needed to provide proper spacing.
1. Choose the right time to plant
Cool Season: Spinach is a cool-season crop, so plant it 2-3 weeks before the last frost in the spring or in late summer for a Autumn harvest.
Avoid Heat: Plant when temperatures are cool, as spinach can "bolt" and produce flowers in very hot weather, leading to a bitter taste.
2. Prepare the soil
Location: Select a sunny or partially shaded spot with well-draining soil.
Amend Soil: Mix in compost, chook manure and or blood n bone to enrich the soil and improve its nutrient content and moisture retention.
3. Plant the seeds
Depth: Sow seeds about 8cm deep.
Spacing: Plant seeds 15cm apart, with rows about 30cm inches apart, or use a "scatter" method for a dense "forest" effect.
Cover and Water: Cover the seeds with soil and pat it down lightly, then water the area thoroughly.
Protect: Use netting or hoops to protect the newly planted seeds from pests and to prevent them from being washed away by watering.
4. Care for the seedlings
Keep Soil Moist: Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Thin Seedlings: Thin the seedlings by cutting them at the base when they are young to give the remaining plants space to grow.
Weed Control: Remove any weed seeds that sprout to prevent competition for resources.
5. Harvest
Pick Leaves: Once the leaves reach full size, you can harvest them by snipping them at the base of the plant.
Encourage Regrowth: Cutting outer leaves encourages the plant to produce more, providing a continuous supply of fresh spinach. Fertilise with Seasol or other high nitrogen liquid fertiliser
