When to plant basil in Indiana

Basil
Plant out in Indianapolis
Apr 27–May 11

Across Indiana the window opens between April 5 and May 6. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Indianapolis
Mar 9–Mar 23
Plant out, Indianapolis
Apr 27–May 11
Sow outdoors, Indianapolis
Apr 27–May 11
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 24
Last frost, Indianapolis
Apr 20

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
IndianapolisApr 27–May 11
Fort WayneMay 1–May 15
EvansvilleApr 5–Apr 19
CarmelApr 28–May 12
FishersApr 28–May 12
South BendApr 30–May 14
BloomingtonApr 22–May 6
NoblesvilleApr 28–May 12
HammondApr 30–May 14
LafayetteMay 3–May 17
GreenwoodApr 27–May 11
GaryApr 29–May 13
WestfieldApr 28–May 12
MuncieApr 23–May 7
KokomoMay 4–May 18
Terre HauteApr 22–May 6
AndersonApr 26–May 10
JeffersonvilleApr 7–Apr 21
ElkhartMay 3–May 17
ColumbusApr 18–May 2
MishawakaApr 30–May 14
LawrenceApr 25–May 9
West LafayetteMay 3–May 17
PortageApr 29–May 13
PlainfieldApr 19–May 3
New AlbanyApr 7–Apr 21
MerrillvilleApr 29–May 13
Crown PointMay 6–May 20
RichmondMay 1–May 15
ValparaisoApr 29–May 13
All 49 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
IndianapolisMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
Fort WayneMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
EvansvilleFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
CarmelMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
FishersMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
South BendMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
BloomingtonMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
NoblesvilleMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
HammondMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
LafayetteMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
GreenwoodMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
GaryMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
WestfieldMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
MuncieMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
KokomoMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
Terre HauteMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
AndersonMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
JeffersonvilleFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
ElkhartMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
ColumbusFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
MishawakaMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
LawrenceMar 7 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 18
West LafayetteMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
PortageMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
PlainfieldMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
New AlbanyFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
MerrillvilleMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
Crown PointMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
RichmondMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
ValparaisoMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
GoshenMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
BrownsburgMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
ZionsvilleMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
Michigan CityMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
GrangerMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
ScherervilleMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
HobartMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
MarionMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
FranklinMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
GreenfieldMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
East ChicagoMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
AvonMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
St. JohnMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
MunsterMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
HighlandMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
La PorteMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
SeymourMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
ClarksvilleFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
ShelbyvilleMar 6 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 17

Questions

When should I plant basil in Indiana?

In Indianapolis, plant out from April 27 to May 11. Across Indiana the window opens between April 5 and May 6, 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 Indiana

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Indiana