When to plant basil
Start basil indoors 6–6 weeks before your last spring frost, then transplant 1.5 weeks after the frost date.. Enter your ZIP below for exact dates.
The rule
Start indoors; set out 1–2 weeks after the last frost. [src]Cited: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”
Start indoors 6 weeks before setting out. [src]Cited: Johnny's Selected Seeds — Seed-Starting Date Calculator chart
Method: Start seeds indoors, then transplant. Frost tolerance: frost-tender (derived from the planting timing above).
Basil is frost-tender; it's grown as a spring/summer crop.
Basil planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant / sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 10a | December 15 | January 19 – February 2 | — |
| Zone 10b | December 20 | January 24 – February 7 | — |
| Zone 2a | April 16 | May 21 – June 4 | — |
| Zone 2b | April 24 | May 29 – June 12 | — |
| Zone 3b | April 19 | May 24 – June 7 | — |
| Zone 4a | April 13 | May 18 – June 1 | — |
| Zone 4b | April 9 | May 14 – May 28 | — |
| Zone 5a | April 11 | May 16 – May 30 | — |
| Zone 5b | April 3 | May 8 – May 22 | — |
| Zone 6a | March 30 | May 4 – May 18 | — |
| Zone 6b | March 23 | April 27 – May 11 | — |
| Zone 7a | March 15 | April 19 – May 3 | — |
| Zone 7b | March 6 | April 10 – April 24 | — |
| Zone 8a | February 23 | March 30 – April 13 | — |
| Zone 8b | February 13 | March 20 – April 3 | — |
| Zone 9a | January 30 | March 6 – March 20 | — |
| Zone 9b | January 2 | February 6 – February 20 | — |
What you'll need
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Last verified 2026-07-16. Sources: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.