US Grow Zones

When to plant basil by zone

Last updated · Sources: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals frost dates; timing rules described in our methodology

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.

SeasonWarmtender to frost
Days to maturity60–90from sowing
Min. soil temp70°F21.1°C, at planting
Spacing10–12 inin the row

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.

Basil planting windows by hardiness zoneBasil planting windows by USDA zone. zone 1a: indoor Apr 17–May 1, transplant Jun 12–Jun 26, direct Jun 12–Jul 3; zone 1b: indoor Apr 17–May 1, transplant Jun 12–Jun 26, direct Jun 12–Jul 3; zone 2a: indoor Apr 9–Apr 23, transplant Jun 4–Jun 18, direct Jun 4–Jun 25; zone 2b: indoor Apr 8–Apr 22, transplant Jun 3–Jun 17, direct Jun 3–Jun 24; zone 3a: indoor Apr 23–May 7, transplant Jun 18–Jul 2, direct Jun 18–Jul 9; zone 3b: indoor Apr 12–Apr 26, transplant Jun 7–Jun 21, direct Jun 7–Jun 28; zone 4a: indoor Mar 31–Apr 14, transplant May 26–Jun 9, direct May 26–Jun 16; zone 4b: indoor Mar 24–Apr 7, transplant May 19–Jun 2, direct May 19–Jun 9; zone 5a: indoor Mar 23–Apr 6, transplant May 18–Jun 1, direct May 18–Jun 8; zone 5b: indoor Mar 23–Apr 6, transplant May 18–Jun 1, direct May 18–Jun 8; zone 6a: indoor Mar 23–Apr 6, transplant May 18–Jun 1, direct May 18–Jun 8; zone 6b: indoor Mar 15–Mar 29, transplant May 10–May 24, direct May 10–May 31; zone 7a: indoor Mar 11–Mar 25, transplant May 6–May 20, direct May 6–May 27; zone 7b: indoor Feb 27–Mar 13, transplant Apr 24–May 8, direct Apr 24–May 15; zone 8a: indoor Feb 18–Mar 4, transplant Apr 15–Apr 29, direct Apr 15–May 6; zone 8b: indoor Feb 8–Feb 22, transplant Apr 5–Apr 19, direct Apr 5–Apr 26; zone 9a: indoor Jan 28–Feb 11, transplant Mar 25–Apr 8, direct Mar 25–Apr 15; zone 9b: indoor Jan 1–Jan 15, transplant Feb 26–Mar 12, direct Feb 26–Mar 19; zone 10a: indoor Dec 15–Dec 29, transplant Feb 9–Feb 23, direct Feb 9–Mar 2; zoJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1a*1b*2a2b*3a*3b*4a4b5a5b6a6b7a7b8a8b9a9b10a10b11a11b*12a*12b13a*13b*Start indoorsPlant outDirect sowFall cropFrost-free climate window · * estimated zone
Planting windows by zone, drawn from the table below. Zones marked * have no major city on this site and use NOAA station estimates.
ZoneMedian last frostStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop
1a*May 29Apr 17 – May 1Jun 12 – Jun 26Jun 12 – Jul 3—
1b*May 29Apr 17 – May 1Jun 12 – Jun 26Jun 12 – Jul 3—
2aMay 21Apr 9 – Apr 23Jun 4 – Jun 18Jun 4 – Jun 25—
2b*May 20Apr 8 – Apr 22Jun 3 – Jun 17Jun 3 – Jun 24—
3a*Jun 4Apr 23 – May 7Jun 18 – Jul 2Jun 18 – Jul 9—
3b*May 24Apr 12 – Apr 26Jun 7 – Jun 21Jun 7 – Jun 28—
4aMay 12Mar 31 – Apr 14May 26 – Jun 9May 26 – Jun 16—
4bMay 5Mar 24 – Apr 7May 19 – Jun 2May 19 – Jun 9—
5aMay 4Mar 23 – Apr 6May 18 – Jun 1May 18 – Jun 8—
5bMay 4Mar 23 – Apr 6May 18 – Jun 1May 18 – Jun 8—
6aMay 4Mar 23 – Apr 6May 18 – Jun 1May 18 – Jun 8—
6bApr 26Mar 15 – Mar 29May 10 – May 24May 10 – May 31—
7aApr 22Mar 11 – Mar 25May 6 – May 20May 6 – May 27—
7bApr 10Feb 27 – Mar 13Apr 24 – May 8Apr 24 – May 15—
8aApr 1Feb 18 – Mar 4Apr 15 – Apr 29Apr 15 – May 6—
8bMar 22Feb 8 – Feb 22Apr 5 – Apr 19Apr 5 – Apr 26—
9aMar 11Jan 28 – Feb 11Mar 25 – Apr 8Mar 25 – Apr 15—
9bFeb 12Jan 1 – Jan 15Feb 26 – Mar 12Feb 26 – Mar 19—
10aJan 26Dec 15 – Dec 29Feb 9 – Feb 23Feb 9 – Mar 2—
10bJan 27Dec 16 – Dec 30Feb 10 – Feb 24Feb 10 – Mar 3—
11aRareMar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30
11b*RareMar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30
12a*RareMar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30
12bRareMar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30
13a*RareMar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30
13b*RareMar 1 – Jun 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30

Growing tips

Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.

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

Basil planting questions

When should I start basil seeds indoors?

About 4–6 weeks before your last spring frost. Using the median frost dates of cities on this site: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Mar 23 – Apr 6; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 15 – Mar 29; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Feb 18 – Mar 4.

When can I plant basil outside?

Set out transplants from 2 weeks after to 4 weeks after the last frost, once the soil reaches about 70°F (21.1°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): May 18 – Jun 1; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): May 10 – May 24; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Apr 15 – Apr 29.

Is my growing season long enough for basil?

Basil needs 60–90 days from sowing, and must finish before fall frost. Counting from planting 2 weeks after the last frost plus two weeks of harvest, slower varieties need about 118 days between the 30% frost dates. That is longer than the season in 3 of the 460 cities on this site with frost dates — for example Bend, OR, Flagstaff, AZ, Fairbanks, AK — where early varieties are the safer choice.

What soil temperature does basil need?

At least 70°F (21.1°C) at planting depth. Cold soil slows germination more than a short delay in planting does, so in a cold spring it pays to wait a week past the usual date. As a tender crop, basil cannot take frost.

How far apart should I plant basil?

Recommended in-row spacing: 10–12 in. Basil blackens below about 40°F, even without frost.

When do you plant basil where frost is rare?

In frost-free climates, plant basil Mar 1 – Jun 30 and Aug 15 – Sep 30, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.