When to plant Basil in Zone 9a
In Zone 9a, Basil: start seeds indoors around Jan 17–Jan 31; transplant outdoors around Mar 7–Mar 21. Expect to harvest around May 6–May 20.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Jan 17 – Jan 31 |
| Transplant outdoors | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Harvest | May 6 – May 20 |
Tip: Extremely frost-sensitive. Keep indoors until nights are reliably warm, then pinch often.
Zone 9a averages a last spring frost around Feb 28 and a first fall frost around Dec 5. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 9a calendar in the tool →