When to plant basil

Basil
The rule

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost.

Basil blackens below 50°F. Wait a week or two after the last frost.

Days to harvest
50–75
Type
Warm season

Start dates by state

Alaska: May 23AKMay 23Maine: May 3MEMay 3Wisconsin: May 3WIMay 3Vermont: May 6VTMay 6New Hampshire: May 7NHMay 7Washington: Mar 15WAMar 15Idaho: May 1IDMay 1Montana: May 11MTMay 11North Dakota: May 11NDMay 11Minnesota: Apr 30MNApr 30Illinois: Apr 17ILApr 17Michigan: May 4MIMay 4New York: Apr 8NYApr 8Massachusetts: Apr 11MAApr 11Oregon: Mar 4ORMar 4Nevada: Feb 15NVFeb 15Wyoming: May 21WYMay 21South Dakota: May 3SDMay 3Iowa: Apr 25IAApr 25Indiana: Apr 27INApr 27Ohio: Apr 27OHApr 27Pennsylvania: Apr 6PAApr 6New Jersey: Apr 11NJApr 11Connecticut: Apr 12CTApr 12Rhode Island: Apr 18RIApr 18California: Feb 15CAFeb 15Utah: Apr 7UTApr 7Colorado: May 11COMay 11Nebraska: Apr 23NEApr 23Missouri: Apr 11MOApr 11Kentucky: Apr 13KYApr 13West Virginia: Apr 23WVApr 23Virginia: Apr 5VAApr 5Maryland: Mar 31MDMar 31Delaware: Apr 14DEApr 14Arizona: Feb 15AZFeb 15New Mexico: Apr 30NMApr 30Kansas: Apr 18KSApr 18Arkansas: Mar 28ARMar 28Tennessee: Apr 8TNApr 8North Carolina: Apr 6NCApr 6South Carolina: Feb 15SCFeb 15District of Columbia: Apr 5DCApr 5Oklahoma: Apr 11OKApr 11Louisiana: Feb 15LAFeb 15Mississippi: Mar 13MSMar 13Alabama: Mar 31ALMar 31Georgia: Mar 31GAMar 31Hawaii: frost-freeHInoneTexas: Feb 15TXFeb 15Florida: Feb 15FLFeb 15
Before FebFebruaryMarchAprilMayJune or later
When the main planting window opens in each state's largest city. Click a state for every city.
StateLargest cityWindow
AlabamaHuntsvilleMar 31 to Apr 14
AlaskaAnchorageMay 23 to Jun 6
ArizonaPhoenixFeb 15 to Mar 1
ArkansasLittle RockMar 28 to Apr 11
CaliforniaSan JoseFeb 15 to Mar 1
ColoradoDenverMay 11 to May 25
ConnecticutBridgeportApr 12 to Apr 26
DelawareWilmingtonApr 14 to Apr 28
District of ColumbiaWashingtonApr 5 to Apr 19
FloridaJacksonvilleFeb 15 to Mar 1
GeorgiaAtlantaMar 31 to Apr 14
Hawaiino frost date
IdahoBoise CityMay 1 to May 15
IllinoisChicagoApr 17 to May 1
IndianaIndianapolisApr 27 to May 11
IowaDes MoinesApr 25 to May 9
KansasWichitaApr 18 to May 2
KentuckyLouisville/Jefferson CountyApr 13 to Apr 27
LouisianaNew OrleansFeb 15 to Mar 1
MainePortlandMay 3 to May 17
MarylandBaltimoreMar 31 to Apr 14
MassachusettsBostonApr 11 to Apr 25
MichiganDetroitMay 4 to May 18
MinnesotaMinneapolisApr 30 to May 14
MississippiJacksonMar 13 to Mar 27
MissouriKansas CityApr 11 to Apr 25
MontanaBillingsMay 11 to May 25
NebraskaOmahaApr 23 to May 7
NevadaLas VegasFeb 15 to Mar 1
New HampshireManchesterMay 7 to May 21
New JerseyNewarkApr 11 to Apr 25
New MexicoAlbuquerqueApr 30 to May 14
New YorkNew YorkApr 8 to Apr 22
North CarolinaCharlotteApr 6 to Apr 20
North DakotaFargoMay 11 to May 25
OhioColumbusApr 27 to May 11
OklahomaOklahoma CityApr 11 to Apr 25
OregonPortlandMar 4 to Mar 18
PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaApr 6 to Apr 20
Rhode IslandProvidenceApr 18 to May 2
South CarolinaCharlestonFeb 15 to Mar 1
South DakotaSioux FallsMay 3 to May 17
TennesseeNashvilleApr 8 to Apr 22
TexasHoustonFeb 15 to Mar 1
UtahSalt Lake CityApr 7 to Apr 21
VermontBurlingtonMay 6 to May 20
VirginiaVirginia BeachApr 5 to Apr 19
WashingtonSeattleMar 15 to Mar 29
West VirginiaCharlestonApr 23 to May 7
WisconsinMilwaukeeMay 3 to May 17
WyomingCheyenneMay 21 to Jun 4

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