When to plant basil in Maryland

Basil
Plant out in Baltimore
Mar 31–Apr 14

Across Maryland the window opens between March 31 and May 1. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Baltimore
Feb 10–Feb 24
Plant out, Baltimore
Mar 31–Apr 14
Sow outdoors, Baltimore
Mar 31–Apr 14
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 24
Last frost, Baltimore
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
BaltimoreMar 31–Apr 14
ColumbiaApr 12–Apr 26
FrederickApr 9–Apr 23
GermantownApr 21–May 5
WaldorfApr 24–May 8
Silver SpringApr 17–May 1
Ellicott CityApr 9–Apr 23
Glen BurnieApr 17–May 1
GaithersburgApr 8–Apr 22
RockvilleApr 8–Apr 22
BethesdaApr 16–Apr 30
DundalkMar 31–Apr 14
BowieApr 29–May 13
SevernApr 17–May 1
Bel Air SouthApr 17–May 1
TowsonApr 9–Apr 23
Aspen HillApr 8–Apr 22
WheatonApr 8–Apr 22
North BethesdaApr 8–Apr 22
PotomacApr 8–Apr 22
OdentonApr 17–May 1
HagerstownApr 18–May 2
CatonsvilleMar 31–Apr 14
EssexMar 31–Apr 14
AnnapolisApr 3–Apr 17
Severna ParkApr 3–Apr 17
ClintonApr 10–Apr 24
OlneyApr 8–Apr 22
RandallstownApr 9–Apr 23
Owings MillsApr 9–Apr 23
All 68 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
BaltimoreFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
ColumbiaFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
FrederickFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
GermantownMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
WaldorfMar 6 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 17
Silver SpringFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
Ellicott CityFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Glen BurnieFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
GaithersburgFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
RockvilleFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
BethesdaFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
DundalkFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
BowieMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
SevernFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
Bel Air SouthFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
TowsonFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Aspen HillFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
WheatonFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
North BethesdaFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
PotomacFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
OdentonFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
HagerstownFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
CatonsvilleFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
EssexFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
AnnapolisFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
Severna ParkFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
ClintonFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
OlneyFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
RandallstownFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Owings MillsFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
College ParkFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
ChillumFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
PikesvilleFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Montgomery VillageMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
SalisburyFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
PasadenaFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
Milford MillFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Middle RiverFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
Bel Air NorthFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
EldersburgFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
ParkvilleFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
LaurelFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
CroftonMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
ClarksburgMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
Perry HallFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
CarneyFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
ReisterstownFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
South LaurelFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
LochearnFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
IlchesterFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
FairlandFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
ElkridgeFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
Ballenger CreekFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Fort WashingtonFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
North LaurelFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
EdgewoodFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
GreenbeltFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
SuitlandFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
LandoverFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
North PotomacFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
ArnoldFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
CockeysvilleFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Camp SpringsFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
Langley ParkFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
HyattsvilleFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
ArbutusFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
RosedaleFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
WestminsterMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24

Questions

When should I plant basil in Maryland?

In Baltimore, plant out from March 31 to April 14. Across Maryland the window opens between March 31 and May 1, 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 Maryland

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Maryland