When to Plant Basil
Start basil indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost, then plant them out 2 to 4 weeks after your last frost.
Basil at a glance
- Start indoors
- 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost
- Plant out
- 2 to 4 weeks after your last frost
- Time to harvest
- 30 to 45 days from planting out
- Harvest lasts
- about 18 weeks
- Spacing
- 4 per square foot
- Frost
- Tender: frost kills it
Growing basil
Basil needs heat and sun: plant it out once the nights are warm, in rich, well-drained soil, and water at the base. Sweet basil is the classic; Thai, lemon and purple basils bring other flavors and colors to the bed.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Start indoors | Plant out | Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 16–30 | Jun 11–25 | Jul 11 – Sep 14 |
| Zone 3b | Apr 5–19 | May 31 – Jun 14 | Jun 30 – Sep 25 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 26 – Jun 9 | Jun 25 – Sep 28 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jun 21 – Oct 1 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | May 17–31 | Jun 16 – Oct 5 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 15–29 | Jun 14 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | May 13–27 | Jun 12 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 | Jun 6 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 7a | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30 – May 14 | May 30 – Oct 3 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 | May 19 – Sep 22 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 12–26 | May 12 – Sep 15 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | Apr 30 – Sep 3 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 | Apr 15 – Aug 19 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Mar 17 – Jul 21 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 21 – Jan 4Nights are still cool before mid-February, so this starts a little later. | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Mar 17 – Jul 21 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Frost is rare here, so basil can go in from late winter, and again in late summer for a fall crop. | ||
Questions about basil
Can I grow basil indoors?
Yes, on a bright, sunny windowsill or under a grow light. Indoors it grows more slowly, so pick lightly.
Why do basil leaves turn black?
Cold. Basil dislikes chilly nights below about 50 °F, so wait for warm weather to plant it out and pick the last of it before the first frost.
