Basil ‘Red Rubin’
£4.00
As the name suggests, Red Rubin Basil is a red-coloured basil. More specifically, it has dark, reddish-purple leaves and stems, making it most appealing for salads and garnishes.
Another small difference from regular basil is that Red Rubin has a stronger flavour.
Evidence of a reddish basil dates back to the 1830s, when the English botanist George Bentham first discovered an ‘opal’ strain of the plant. It wasn’t until 1950, however, that a genuine red/purple basil cultivar was created: the Dark Opal.
Red Rubin is a new, improved variant of this cultivar, having larger, more deeply purple leaves and being less prone to areas of green developing. You can guarantee that vibrant Red Rubin will stand out from the crowd!
| Common name | Basil |
|---|---|
| Latin name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Variety | Red Rubin |
| Quantity | 120 seeds |
| Plant size | Height: 40 cm Width: 20 cm |
| Container size | Height: 20 cm Width: 20 cm |
| Companion plant(s) | Tomatoes, peppers, oregano, parsley, garlic chives, alpine strawberries |
| Planting indoors | Feb to Mar |
|---|---|
| Planting outdoors | Apr to Jun |
| Germination | 5 to 10 days |
| Harvesting | 40 to 60 days |
| Planting | 1 cm to 3 cm apart at 0.5 cm depth |
| Thinning | 3 cm to 5 cm |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, light and moist soil |
| Watering | Regular watering, not overdone |
| Feeding | Light feeding |
| Caring | To promote a nice bushy plant with lots of lemon-scented leaves, prune this basil early and often by pinching off the upper set of leaves. Cut the flowers off to prevent the leaves from becoming bitter. |
| Beneficial wildlife | Attracts bees and butterflies. |
| Pests | Repels aphids and mosquitoes. Improves the health of other plants (and people!). |
| Harvesting | Pinch out leaves as you need them for your recipes. Use the remainder for a refreshing cup of herbal tea. As fresh basil wilts and loses both its colour and fragrance soon after harvesting, it is best to keep basil in a glass of water and in a cool, dry, dark spot. |
|---|---|
| Eating | Medicinal properties: Refreshing and relaxing, basil stimulates appetite and lifts the mood. How to eat: Red Rubin is an excellent choice for a salad garnish or an intensely flavoured pesto sauce. Or how about giving your party drinks a twist with this luscious leaf? Shake together vodka, peppercorns, lemon juice and sugar syrup with some Red Rubin for a punchy and refreshing Red Basil Smash. |
Out of stock