When to plant basil in Alabama

Basil
Plant out in Huntsville
Mar 31–Apr 14

Across Alabama the window opens between February 28 and April 11. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Huntsville
Feb 10–Feb 24
Plant out, Huntsville
Mar 31–Apr 14
Sow outdoors, Huntsville
Mar 31–Apr 14
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 11
Last frost, Huntsville
Mar 24

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.

Basil planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
HuntsvilleMar 31–Apr 14
MobileFeb 28–Mar 14
BirminghamMar 28–Apr 11
MontgomeryMar 11–Mar 25
TuscaloosaMar 25–Apr 8
HooverMar 26–Apr 9
AuburnMar 20–Apr 3
DothanMar 8–Mar 22
MadisonMar 31–Apr 14
DecaturApr 2–Apr 16
FlorenceApr 3–Apr 17
PrattvilleMar 20–Apr 3
Phenix CityMar 12–Mar 26
Vestavia HillsMar 28–Apr 11
OpelikaApr 5–Apr 19
AlabasterMar 19–Apr 2
AthensMar 27–Apr 10
GadsdenMar 26–Apr 9
NorthportMar 25–Apr 8
DaphneMar 22–Apr 5
EnterpriseMar 16–Mar 30
FoleyMar 12–Mar 26
HomewoodMar 28–Apr 11
TrussvilleApr 11–Apr 25
FairhopeMar 17–Mar 31
PelhamMar 26–Apr 9
BessemerMar 30–Apr 13
AlbertvilleMar 24–Apr 7
HelenaMar 26–Apr 9
OxfordMar 30–Apr 13
All 33 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
HuntsvilleFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
MobileJan 10 to Jan 24Feb 28 to Mar 14Feb 28 to Mar 14Feb 21
BirminghamFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 21
MontgomeryJan 21 to Feb 4Mar 11 to Mar 25Mar 11 to Mar 25Mar 4
TuscaloosaFeb 4 to Feb 18Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
HooverFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 19
AuburnJan 30 to Feb 13Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
DothanJan 18 to Feb 1Mar 8 to Mar 22Mar 8 to Mar 22Mar 1
MadisonFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
DecaturFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 26
FlorenceFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
PrattvilleJan 30 to Feb 13Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
Phenix CityJan 22 to Feb 5Mar 12 to Mar 26Mar 12 to Mar 26Mar 5
Vestavia HillsFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 21
OpelikaFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
AlabasterJan 29 to Feb 12Mar 19 to Apr 2Mar 19 to Apr 2Mar 12
AthensFeb 6 to Feb 20Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 20
GadsdenFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 19
NorthportFeb 4 to Feb 18Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
DaphneFeb 1 to Feb 15Mar 22 to Apr 5Mar 22 to Apr 5Mar 15
EnterpriseJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
FoleyJan 22 to Feb 5Mar 12 to Mar 26Mar 12 to Mar 26Mar 5
HomewoodFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 21
TrussvilleFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
FairhopeJan 27 to Feb 10Mar 17 to Mar 31Mar 17 to Mar 31Mar 10
PelhamFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 19
BessemerFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 23
AlbertvilleFeb 3 to Feb 17Mar 24 to Apr 7Mar 24 to Apr 7Mar 17
HelenaFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 19
OxfordFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 23
Mountain BrookFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 21
AnnistonFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 23
CullmanFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31

Questions

When should I plant basil in Alabama?

In Huntsville, plant out from March 31 to April 14. Across Alabama the window opens between February 28 and April 11, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

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. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Alabama

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Alabama