When to plant basil
Basil is a very tender, warm-season herb that matures in about 30–45 days from transplanting. Start seeds indoors about 4–6 weeks before your last spring frost, then set out transplants about 1–2 weeks after the last frost. Because the right calendar date depends on your local frost dates, pick your ZIP or city on the home planner to see exact basil planting windows for your location; the per-location pages list them city by city. Windows are extension-guide planning ranges, not guarantees.
Basil at a glance
| Category | warm-season herb |
|---|---|
| Frost tolerance | Very tender |
| Start indoors | 4–6 weeks before last frost |
| Plant out | Transplant out 1–2 wk after last frost |
| Days to maturity | 30–45 days (from transplant) |
| Min. soil temp | 65°F |
| Second (fall) crop | Not typically |
Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.
Basil planting windows by city
The exact dates depend on each location's average frost calendar. Here is basil across 40 locations spanning the climate range — open one for its full printable calendar, or find your own dates with the ZIP planner.
| Location | Zone | Start indoors | Plant out | First harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adak, AK | 8b | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jun 7 – Jun 14 | Jul 7 – Jul 22 |
| Fort Payne, AL | 7b | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 5 – Apr 12 | May 5 – May 20 |
| Saratoga, AR | 8b | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | May 2 – May 17 |
| Top-of-the-World, AZ | 8a | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 3 – Mar 10 | Apr 2 – Apr 17 |
| Half Moon Bay, CA | 10a | Jan 1 – Jan 9 | Feb 13 – Feb 20 | Mar 15 – Mar 30 |
| Rohnert Park, CA | 9a | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | Apr 6 – Apr 21 |
| Ellicott, CO | 6a | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 13 – May 20 | Jun 12 – Jun 27 |
| Millsboro, DE | 7b | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | May 11 – May 26 |
| Yankeetown, FL | 9b | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | Apr 6 – Apr 21 |
| Volcano, HI | 11a | — | year-round | — |
| Boise, ID | 7a | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 1 – May 8 | May 31 – Jun 15 |
| Effingham, IL | 6b | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | May 20 – Jun 4 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 6a | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | Apr 28 – May 5 | May 28 – Jun 12 |
| Minneapolis, KS | 6b | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 27 – May 4 | May 27 – Jun 11 |
| Bayou Blue, LA | 9b | Jan 1 – Jan 8 | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | Mar 14 – Mar 29 |
| Glen Burnie, MD | 8a | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | May 17 – Jun 1 |
| Elk Rapids, MI | 6a | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 7 – May 14 | Jun 6 – Jun 21 |
| Dawson, MN | 4b | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | May 10 – May 17 | Jun 9 – Jun 24 |
| Cayuga, OK | 7a | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | May 22 – Jun 6 |
| Cleveland, MS | 8b | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | Apr 20 – May 5 |
| Island Park, ID | 4a | May 4 – May 18 | Jun 22 – Jun 29 | Jul 22 – Aug 6 |
| Hickory, NC | 8a | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | May 7 – May 22 |
| Litchville, ND | 4a | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | May 17 – May 24 | Jun 16 – Jul 1 |
| Plainview, NE | 5b | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 7 – May 14 | Jun 6 – Jun 21 |
| Capulin, NM | 5b | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 24 – May 31 | Jun 23 – Jul 8 |
| Gabbs, NV | 6b | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 8 – May 15 | Jun 7 – Jun 22 |
| Madrid, NY | 4b | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | May 6 – May 13 | Jun 5 – Jun 20 |
| London, OH | 6a | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 1 – May 8 | May 31 – Jun 15 |
| Perkins, OK | 7b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 10 – Apr 17 | May 10 – May 25 |
| Shedd, OR | 8b | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | Apr 20 – May 5 |
| Seltzer, PA | 6a | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | May 23 – Jun 7 |
| Custer, SD | 5a | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | May 30 – Jun 6 | Jun 29 – Jul 14 |
| Lynchburg, TN | 7b | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | May 14 – May 29 |
| Early, TX | 8a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Mar 29 – Apr 5 | Apr 28 – May 13 |
| Ozona, TX | 8a | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 3 – Apr 10 | May 3 – May 18 |
| Fillmore, UT | 6a | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 11 – May 18 | Jun 10 – Jun 25 |
| Hillsville, VA | 7a | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | May 2 – May 9 | Jun 1 – Jun 16 |
| Green Bluff, WA | 6b | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | May 29 – Jun 5 | Jun 28 – Jul 13 |
| Gordon, WI | 4a | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | May 29 – Jun 5 | Jun 28 – Jul 13 |
| Elk Garden, WV | 6b | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 7 – May 14 | Jun 6 – Jun 21 |
How to time basil
Basil is a very tender warm-season herb. Very tender crops need warm soil and air, so wait until well after the last frost — cold, wet soil stunts them even without a freeze. Start seeds indoors about 4–6 weeks before your last frost, then transplant out 1–2 wk after last frost. It matures in roughly 30–45 days from transplanting.
Find your own dates on the home planner, browse all crops, or read the methodology for the offsets and citations behind these windows.
Frequently asked questions
- Is basil frost-tolerant?
- Basil is a very tender crop. Very tender crops need warm soil and air, so wait until well after the last frost — cold, wet soil stunts them even without a freeze.
- How long does basil take to grow?
- About 30–45 days from transplanting to first harvest, depending on variety and weather. Days-to-maturity ranges are typical values from U.S. Cooperative Extension planting guides.
- When should I start basil seeds indoors?
- Start seeds indoors roughly 4–6 weeks before your average last spring frost, then transplant out set out transplants about 1–2 weeks after the last frost. Look up your local last-frost date on the planner for exact calendar dates.