Shiso Planting Guide

May

May shiso essentials

Whether you're sowing, transplanting, or harvesting, shiso needs the right timing. Check your zone below for exact dates.

Sun partial shade

Water moderate

Days to harvest 50–70

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 8″

How to water shiso
About an inch of water a week keeps shiso happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put shiso
shiso wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant shiso. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Pick your county for exact shiso timing →

Shiso (perilla) is a fragrant Japanese herb with large, ruffled leaves in green or purple varieties. It has a unique flavor combining mint, basil, and anise.

Perilla frutescens · Vegetable · Lamiaceae family · 50–70 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Shiso Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Shiso?

Zone Compatibility for Shiso Zones 3a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 3a	Mar 20	May 22	Jun 5	Jul 31 – Sep 25
Zone 3b	Mar 15	May 17	May 31	Jul 26 – Sep 20
Zone 4a	Mar 11	May 13	May 27	Jul 22 – Sep 16
Zone 4b	Mar 6	May 8	May 22	Jul 17 – Sep 11
Zone 5a	Mar 7	May 2	May 9	Jul 4 – Aug 29
Zone 5b	Feb 28	Apr 25	May 2	Jun 27 – Aug 22
Zone 6a	Feb 20	Apr 17	Apr 24	Jun 19 – Aug 14
Zone 6b	Feb 13	Apr 10	Apr 17	Jun 12 – Aug 7
Zone 7a	Feb 4	Apr 1	Apr 8	Jun 3 – Jul 29
Zone 7b	Jan 28	Mar 25	Apr 1	May 27 – Jul 22
Zone 8a	Jan 18	Mar 15	Mar 22	May 17 – Jul 12
Zone 8b	Jan 7	Mar 4	Mar 11	May 6 – Jul 1
Zone 9a	Dec 30	Feb 17	Feb 17	Apr 14 – Jun 9
Zone 9b	Dec 14	Feb 1	Feb 1	Mar 29 – May 24
Zone 10a	Nov 20	Jan 8	Jan 8	Mar 5 – Apr 30
Zone 10b	Nov 20	Jan 8	Jan 8	Mar 5 – Apr 30
Zone 11a	Nov 20	Jan 8	Jan 8	Mar 5 – Apr 30
Zone 11b	Nov 20	Jan 8	Jan 8	Mar 5 – Apr 30

How to Plant Shiso

0.5"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

5.5 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Lamiaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Lamiaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Shiso

Shiso matures in just 50–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 4 successive plantings by sowing every 5.7 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Shiso

✅ Good Companions

Tomatoes Peppers

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Shiso

Direct sow after last frost or start indoors. Both green and red varieties are available. Pinch tips to encourage bushiness. Self-sows prolifically; deadhead to control.

Saving Shiso Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

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Seed Saving & Storage Guide

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Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

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Shiso by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Shiso?

Shiso (Perilla frutescens) takes 50 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Shiso grow in?

Shiso can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Shiso need?

Growing Shiso requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.