Red Rubin Basil
It has a stronger flavour than regular basil with a striking red colour.
Red Rubin Basil is quite a new variety of Basil and is ideal for tomato dishes, salads and especially great in cocktails
This article will cover:
- How to grow it at home
- What is Red Rubin basil used for
- Examples of popular recipes that use Red Rubin basil
Essentially it is an improved variety of Dark Opal Basil (which was originally developed by John Scarchuk and Joseph Lent at the University of Connecticut[2] in the 1950s)
Fun to grow and looks great. Takes about 2 to 3 months to grow. More info in our ‘Where to buy Basil‘ article
1. How to grow Red Rubin basil at home
You can grow it from seeds. It is very easy to grow but will grow very fast.
There are 2 ways you can grow it at home:
Option 1 – How to grow the red rubin basil outdoors (garden, balcony, etc.)
It prefers direct sunlight, well drained soil and need to be frost free.
If you want to grow them outdoors the easiest option is to sow them in pots March to April and then move them outdoors when there is no danger of frost.
Pinch out the tip of the main stem to encourage bushy grow and prolong growing time.
Alternatively you can sow the seeds indoors (in a seed tray on a seedling heat mat) any time of the year and then transfer them into a pot.
For example the example in the picture was
- Sown on 7 July,
- Transferred into a pot on 14 July – the picture was taken 28 July.
- And will probably be ready for 1st harvest in about 1 week
- i.e. 4 weeks from sowing to harvest.
Option 2 – How to grow Red Rubin Basil indoors (hydroponics or aquaponics)
Because of the importance of moisture and light it is ideally suited for hydroponics with additional lights.
Not only are they easier to grow, but you will also get fast results.
New to hydroponics? – Top 5 hydroponic kits for beginners
2. What is Red Rubin basil used for
It has a stronger flavour than regular varieties like Genovese Basil
Often used in recipes like Basil Pesto, but when using it simply use less than other basil types (unless you like a strong basil flavour).
It is ideal as a garnish or with salads and especially good for cocktails.
3. Example Red Rubin Basil Recipes
Typical recipes:
- Red Basil Pesto
- Red Basil Armenian Salad
- Purple Basil Mojito (cocktail)
More information
The type of basil you use will differ depending on the flavour you need, as well as recipe requirements.
We will be adding more recipes over time – for example how to make cocktails, use it in pasta, etc. In addition there is more info at the example basil recipes page
Absolutely loved growing this, looks great and fantastic when making a mojito cocktail