When to plant Basil
Extremely frost-sensitive. Keep indoors until nights are reliably warm, then pinch often.
TypeHerbs
Frost toleranceTender (no frost)
Days to maturity~60
When to plant Basil by USDA zone
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors May 4–May 18 Transplant outdoors Jun 22–Jul 6 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors Apr 29–May 13 Transplant outdoors Jun 17–Jul 1 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors Apr 24–May 8 Transplant outdoors Jun 12–Jun 26 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors Apr 18–May 2 Transplant outdoors Jun 6–Jun 20 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Apr 13–Apr 27 Transplant outdoors Jun 1–Jun 15 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Apr 8–Apr 22 Transplant outdoors May 27–Jun 10 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Apr 3–Apr 17 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Mar 29–Apr 12 Transplant outdoors May 17–May 31 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors May 12–May 26 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Mar 19–Apr 2 Transplant outdoors May 7–May 21 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 12 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 22–May 6 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 28 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 22 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Feb 8–Feb 22 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Transplant outdoors Mar 7–Mar 21 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Feb 7–Feb 21 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 22–Feb 5 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |