Frost-sensitive; pinch flowers for bushier growth
Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.
| Zone | Last Frost | Start Indoors | Transplant | Direct Sow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2A | May 30 | Apr 18 | May 30 | Jun 13 |
| Zone 3B | May 15 | Apr 3 | May 15 | May 29 |
| Zone 4A | May 8 | Mar 27 | May 8 | May 22 |
| Zone 4B | May 1 | Mar 20 | May 1 | May 15 |
| Zone 5A | Apr 25 | Mar 14 | Apr 25 | May 9 |
| Zone 5B | Apr 18 | Mar 7 | Apr 18 | May 2 |
| Zone 6A | Apr 21 | Mar 10 | Apr 21 | May 5 |
| Zone 6B | Apr 10 | Feb 27 | Apr 10 | Apr 24 |
| Zone 7A | Apr 5 | Feb 22 | Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Zone 7B | Mar 28 | Feb 14 | Mar 28 | Apr 11 |
| Zone 8A | Mar 20 | Feb 6 | Mar 20 | Apr 3 |
| Zone 8B | Mar 12 | Jan 29 | Mar 12 | Mar 26 |
| Zone 9A | Feb 28 | Jan 17 | Feb 28 | Mar 14 |
| Zone 9B | Feb 15 | Jan 4 | Feb 15 | Mar 1 |
| Zone 10A | Feb 1 | Dec 21 | Feb 1 | Feb 15 |
| Zone 10B | Jan 15 | Dec 4 | Jan 15 | Jan 29 |
| Zone 11A | Jan 1 | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 15 |
Basil is the quintessential summer herb — essential for pesto, caprese, and Thai dishes.
Good companions: tomatoes, peppers, oregano
Avoid planting near: sage, rue
Harvest leaves continuously once plants have 6+ leaf pairs