...well, in Jar Jar Binks-speak.
But this is the late summer herb worth waiting for. Sweet and citrusy in salads, or wrapped around bites of spicy filling, or slices of soy-grilled shortrib (recipe in 66 Square Feet - A Delicious Life).
Only a handful of my seeds germinated. I may have started them too early; Shiso (Perilla) really, really likes warm temperatures. But the five plants in one pot are enough for my purposes.
If you leave them unmolested they make quite interesting early fall flowers, too, which remind me of Plectranthus. However the plant has strong invasive potential and is a problem from Pennsylvania through points south and across to Illinois.
So just eat it.
(Extra points if you ID the weed, er...food, in the middle of the pot.)
Mint?
ReplyDeleteI think it's quickweed (Galinsoga). Whatever it is, I pull it up all the time in our garden.
ReplyDeletePerilla in Europe is known for its anti-allergic proprieties. it is sold as an oil. on the link you indicate, they say the plant is toxic
ReplyDelete...for cattle, they say. Interesting. But they mention it used in Asian cooking.
DeleteI'm the anonymous above. How can I get my five extra points if you don't know who I am?
ReplyDeleteNancy Mc
Use the Name/url option when leaving a comment, Nancy! Just leave url space blank.
DeleteAnd yes, collect 5 points :-) Galinsoga is a very good cooked green (leaves), esp, earlier in the season.
Definitely one of the most versatile plants in the garden. Edible, decorative, drought and shade tolerant, deer resistant (toxic to ruminants), self-sowing, container-growing.
ReplyDeleteI have had this 'weed' in my garden, and pulling it out for years, am finally glad to know what is, and that it is edible!
ReplyDeleteThanks!