Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a hero in both the kitchen and the garden. It is easy and fast to grow indoors to add a slight nutty taste to salads or sandwiches.
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Commonly named shiso or Zi Su, this ornamental green (sometimes purple) leaves are widely used in Asian cooking to provide a refreshing garnish for fish, rice, tempura and sashimi dishes. Perrila is also known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory quality.
How to grow perilla in a garden
- Choose a sunny or part shade spot in your garden with well-drained soil. Enrich with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
- Sow seed direct, planting them in clumps of 2-3 seeds 6 mm deep at 300 mm intervals. Cover lightly with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix and water well.
- Water regularly. Once seedlings emerge, thin seedlings and feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- Harvest by snipping or pulling leaves at soil level – this will also help encourage leafier growth. Sow successive crops every 3-4 weeks to extend your harvest window.
How to grow perilla in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 300 mm wide and deep and position in a sunny or part shade. Fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
- Sow seed direct, planting them in clumps of 2-3 seeds 6 mm deep. Cover lightly with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix and water well.
- Water regularly. Once seedlings emerge, thin seedlings and feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- Harvest by snipping or pulling leaves at soil level – this will also help encourage leafier growth. Sow successive crops every 3-4 weeks to extend your harvest window.
Growing tips
- In very cold weather, growth may be slower and harvest times will take a little longer
Companion plants
- Other Asian herbs
Watercress
The peppery taste of watercress brings the pizzazz to sandwiches, winter dishes & garnishes. The high content of Calcium, Iron & Vitamins make watercress a super-healthy option.
Perilla
A widely used ingredient in Asian cooking, it's highly nutritious and beautiful to look at too. Here's how to grow perilla in the garden or in pots.
Swede
Here's a guide on how to grow swedes in the garden or pots.
Recommended products
Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix
Specially formulated for trouble-free seed raising in trays (or outdoor seed sowing direclty into the ground) and propagation of cuttings.
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
Yates Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
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