Shiso Growing Guide
Growing Shiso is easier than you think. This guide walks you through everything you need — from planting your first seed to harvesting.
At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Tender
Cold Hardiness
Survives to 2°C
Plant Family
Lamiaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Annual
Also grows well as
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Cold-stratify the seed for 2 weeks in the fridge, then surface-sow (it needs light) indoors 6 weeks before last frost, or direct-sow once the soil is warm. Thin to 30 cm.
Shiso seed germinates better after a couple of weeks of cold (mix it with damp sand in the fridge). It's a frost-tender annual that self-seeds readily, so one planting often returns on its own.
When To Start
First Chance to Plant
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Last Chance to Plant
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When should you plant Shiso?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Shiso Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
The Journey Ahead
Shiso's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Expect sprouts in 14–21 days
Growing Tips
- 1Shiso is an easy, heat-loving annual that practically grows itself.
- 2Pinch the tips often to keep it leafy, and let one plant go to seed — it'll reseed and come back next year.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
~70
Days to Maturity
60 cm
Mature Height
40 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
90 days
When to Pick
Pick young leaves from the top; flavour is best before flowering
How to Harvest
- 1Pinch leaves from the top of the plant as you need them — this also keeps it bushy and delays flowering.
- 2Harvest the seed heads later if you like the crunchy spiced seeds.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
How to Save Seeds
Let a few plants flower and form seed heads in late summer; once they dry and brown, shake the tiny seeds into an envelope. Shiso self-seeds happily, so you'll likely find volunteers next year too.
Seed Production
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