When to plant basil in New York

Basil
Plant out in New York
Apr 8–Apr 22

Across New York the window opens between April 8 and May 21. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, New York
Feb 18–Mar 4
Plant out, New York
Apr 8–Apr 22
Sow outdoors, New York
Apr 8–Apr 22
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 22
Last frost, New York
Apr 1

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
New YorkApr 8–Apr 22
BuffaloMay 1–May 15
YonkersApr 27–May 11
RochesterMay 1–May 15
SyracuseMay 6–May 20
AlbanyMay 4–May 18
New RochelleApr 27–May 11
CheektowagaMay 1–May 15
Mount VernonApr 8–Apr 22
SchenectadyMay 4–May 18
UticaMay 8–May 22
White PlainsApr 19–May 3
HempsteadApr 9–Apr 23
Tonawanda TownMay 13–May 27
LevittownApr 10–Apr 24
TroyApr 26–May 10
IrondequoitMay 1–May 15
Niagara FallsMay 3–May 17
Kiryas JoelApr 17–May 1
BinghamtonMay 9–May 23
West SenecaMay 1–May 15
FreeportApr 14–Apr 28
HicksvilleApr 9–Apr 23
West BabylonApr 13–Apr 27
CoramApr 11–Apr 25
Valley StreamApr 9–Apr 23
Central IslipApr 17–May 1
BrightonMay 1–May 15
ElmontApr 9–Apr 23
CommackApr 16–Apr 30
All 89 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
New YorkFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
BuffaloMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
YonkersMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
RochesterMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
SyracuseMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
AlbanyMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
New RochelleMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
CheektowagaMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
Mount VernonFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
SchenectadyMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
UticaMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
White PlainsMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
HempsteadFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Tonawanda TownMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
LevittownFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
TroyMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
IrondequoitMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
Niagara FallsMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
Kiryas JoelFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
BinghamtonMar 21 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23May 2
West SenecaMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
FreeportFeb 24 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 7
HicksvilleFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
West BabylonFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
CoramFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
Valley StreamFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Central IslipFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
BrightonMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
ElmontFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
CommackFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
East MeadowFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Long BeachFeb 24 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 7
Spring ValleyMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
New CityMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
UniondaleFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
IthacaMar 30 to Apr 13May 18 to Jun 1May 18 to Jun 1May 11
BaldwinFeb 24 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 7
Huntington StationFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
PoughkeepsieMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
Port ChesterMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
HarrisonMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
OceansideFeb 24 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 7
RomeMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
CentereachFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
Bay ShoreFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
Franklin SquareFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
MiddletownMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
North TonawandaMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
Saratoga SpringsMar 21 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23May 2
Glen CoveFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
NewburghMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
ShirleyMar 7 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 18
MonseyMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
JamestownMar 27 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 8
OssiningMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
Deer ParkFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
LindenhurstFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
West IslipFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
HolbrookFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
PlainviewFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
ElmiraMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
AuburnMar 21 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23May 2
PeekskillMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
Rockville CentreFeb 24 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 7
MedfordMar 7 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 18
Dix HillsFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
SmithtownFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
KingstonApr 2 to Apr 16May 21 to Jun 4May 21 to Jun 4May 14
WatertownMar 21 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23May 2
CopiagueFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
Garden CityFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
RotterdamMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
MassapequaFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
MerrickFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
SeldenFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
MineolaFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
East PatchogueFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
LynbrookFeb 24 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 7
North BellmoreFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
NiskayunaMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
HauppaugeFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
West HempsteadFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
EastchesterMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
North Bay ShoreFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
North AmityvilleFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
LockportMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
East MassapequaFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
HuntingtonFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
NanuetMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20

Questions

When should I plant basil in New York?

In New York, plant out from April 8 to April 22. Across New York the window opens between April 8 and May 21, 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 New York

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in New York