When to plant basil by zone
Ocimum basilicum is a warm-season crop that is tender to frost. Rule of thumb: start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks after to 4 weeks after the last frost; direct sow from 2 weeks after to 5 weeks after the last frost.
Basil planting dates by zone
Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Mar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30.
| Zone | Median last frost | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a* | May 29 | Apr 17 – May 1 | Jun 12 – Jun 26 | Jun 12 – Jul 3 | — |
| 1b* | May 29 | Apr 17 – May 1 | Jun 12 – Jun 26 | Jun 12 – Jul 3 | — |
| 2a | May 21 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | Jun 4 – Jun 18 | Jun 4 – Jun 25 | — |
| 2b* | May 20 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | Jun 3 – Jun 17 | Jun 3 – Jun 24 | — |
| 3a* | Jun 4 | Apr 23 – May 7 | Jun 18 – Jul 2 | Jun 18 – Jul 9 | — |
| 3b* | May 24 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jun 7 – Jun 21 | Jun 7 – Jun 28 | — |
| 4a | May 12 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 26 – Jun 9 | May 26 – Jun 16 | — |
| 4b | May 5 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | May 19 – Jun 2 | May 19 – Jun 9 | — |
| 5a | May 4 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 18 – Jun 1 | May 18 – Jun 8 | — |
| 5b | May 4 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 18 – Jun 1 | May 18 – Jun 8 | — |
| 6a | May 4 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 18 – Jun 1 | May 18 – Jun 8 | — |
| 6b | Apr 26 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 | May 10 – May 24 | May 10 – May 31 | — |
| 7a | Apr 22 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | May 6 – May 20 | May 6 – May 27 | — |
| 7b | Apr 10 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 | Apr 24 – May 15 | — |
| 8a | Apr 1 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Apr 15 – May 6 | — |
| 8b | Mar 22 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | — |
| 9a | Mar 11 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | — |
| 9b | Feb 12 | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Feb 26 – Mar 19 | — |
| 10a | Jan 26 | Dec 15 – Dec 29 | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Feb 9 – Mar 2 | — |
| 10b | Jan 27 | Dec 16 – Dec 30 | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Feb 10 – Mar 3 | — |
| 11a | Rare | Mar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
| 11b* | Rare | Mar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
| 12a* | Rare | Mar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
| 12b | Rare | Mar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
| 13a* | Rare | Mar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
| 13b* | Rare | Mar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
Growing tips
- Basil blackens below about 40°F, even without frost.
- Pinch the flower spikes to keep leaves coming.
- Harvest from the top, just above a pair of leaves.
Exact dates for your city
Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.
Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets