Red basil is becoming increasingly popular. Find out what makes it so special and how best to grow it at home here.
Red basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a red-leaved variant of the popular lamiaceae (Lamiaceae). The corresponding varieties are often also referred to as black basil, since the leaves can turn dark purple.
Red basil: origin and characteristics
Like the related green-leaved basil, the red basil originally comes from the tropics of Africa, America and Asia. There it has been cultivated and used for cooking for many centuries. Instead of green leaves, this very decorative basil captivates with colors that vary from a light red to deep violet. Its flowers are also rarely white, but mostly colored pink to violet. The reddish appearance is caused by a high content of dark blue pigments, the so-called anthocyanins, in the plant cells.
Tip: These pigments are formed in greater intensity when the plants are in a sunny location.
Red Basil Varieties: An Overview
Black or red basil - the varieties are the same and you can now buy them in many places. Here are some popular varieties:
- 'African Blue': Perennial shrub basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum), reach Up to one meter tall, strong red-green leaf colour, pink-purple flowers, flowering period: May to September, a comparatively robust and even perennial variety (provided the temperatures are> 10 °C even in winter)
- '(Dark) Opal': Uniformly dark colored variety, ruffled leaf margin, taste similar to the widespread 'Genovese' basil
- 'Red Ruffles': Dark red and deeply incised leaf margins; pink-purple, edible flowers; Aroma contains notes of anise, cinnamon, some citrus and pepper
- 'Red Rubin': Dark-leaved variety, slightly hot, 1992 All America Selection Winnerexcellent
Growing Red Basil
The cultivation of red basil is similar to "normal" basil cultivation, with a few exceptions. We have summarized the most important aspects that you should consider when growing red basil here at a glance.
Cultivation of Red Basil:
- Light germinator - do not cover seeds with soil
- Possible to grow indoors from mid-March, at 18 - 25 °C
- Always keep seeds moist
- Transplant into larger pots after germination (7 - 14 days)
- For intensive foliage colouring, choose a location that is as sunny as possible
Tip: With the Plantura herb growing set you can easily grow basil on the window sill. This is achieved with the help of the included mini greenhouse. The set also includes basil seeds and three other herbs, as well as seed pots, substrate and plant labels.
Of course, red basil can also be propagated quickly and successfully by cuttings. To do this, shoots about 10 cm long are simply cut off and the leaves are removed from the lower part of the cutting. Then the prepared cuttings are either put directly into the substrate or first rooted in a glass of water. Here you can find out in detail how you can easily propagate basil and other kitchen herbs and harvest them all year round.
Watering and fertilizing red basil
Red basil, like its green relative, needs a lot of water, so it should be watered regularly. In any case, it is important to avoid waterlogging. The leaves of the basil should also not be wetted when watering. If your red basil is outside, you should choose a sheltered location. Basil generally has high nutritional requirements. It is therefore advisable to use humus-rich soil and to fertilize regularly with organic fertilizer - our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is ideal for this.
Winter Red Basil
In order to overwinter your magnificent basil plant successfully, you should make sure to choose a perennial variety. But that alone cannot get the basil through the winter, because the red basil is not at all hardy in our cool-temperate climate zone. Therefore, it should move into a location over the winter that ensures cool temperatures above 10° C. In addition, attention should be paid to sufficient light supply and possibly artificial lighting. Watch outalso be careful to avoid cold drafts.
It can happen that the reddish color of the basil fades a little in winter. This can be explained by the lower light intensity, which often cannot be compensated for by artificial lighting. But don't worry - in the spring, your beloved basil plant's characteristic red color will increase again in the face of the sunlight.
Red Basil: Uses and Ingredients
Basically, red basil can be used in the kitchen just like green basil. However, its impressive color offers a special decorative value when garnishing dishes and is certainly a real eye-catcher for your guests. The diverse and sometimes more intense taste nuances of the red varieties also provide lasting impressions.
The processing of basil into pesto is a classic. However, the color of the red basil pesto comes from the tomatoes used rather than the red basil. Aside from the characteristic anthocyanins, red basil also contains various essential oils. As a result, it has a calming, antispasmodic and digestive effect.
You can find more tips for overwintering basil here.