When to plant Basil in Zone 12a
In Zone 12a, Basil: start seeds indoors around Nov 20–Dec 4; transplant outdoors around Jan 8–Jan 22. Expect to harvest around Mar 9–Mar 23.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Nov 20 – Dec 4 |
| Transplant outdoors | Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Harvest | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
Tip: Extremely frost-sensitive. Keep indoors until nights are reliably warm, then pinch often.
Zone 12a averages a last spring frost around Jan 1 and a first fall frost around Dec 31. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 12a calendar in the tool →