When to plant basil in North Carolina

Basil
Plant out in Charlotte
Apr 6–Apr 20

Across North Carolina the window opens between March 22 and April 23. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Charlotte
Feb 16–Mar 2
Plant out, Charlotte
Apr 6–Apr 20
Sow outdoors, Charlotte
Apr 6–Apr 20
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 6
Last frost, Charlotte
Mar 30

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
CharlotteApr 6–Apr 20
RaleighApr 4–Apr 18
GreensboroApr 8–Apr 22
DurhamApr 9–Apr 23
Winston-SalemApr 2–Apr 16
FayettevilleApr 6–Apr 20
CaryApr 3–Apr 17
WilmingtonMar 26–Apr 9
High PointApr 6–Apr 20
ConcordApr 8–Apr 22
GreenvilleApr 3–Apr 17
AshevilleApr 13–Apr 27
GastoniaApr 3–Apr 17
ApexApr 3–Apr 17
JacksonvilleMar 30–Apr 13
HuntersvilleApr 6–Apr 20
Chapel HillApr 5–Apr 19
KannapolisApr 8–Apr 22
BurlingtonApr 5–Apr 19
Wake ForestApr 11–Apr 25
MooresvilleApr 16–Apr 30
Rocky MountApr 7–Apr 21
Holly SpringsApr 13–Apr 27
WilsonMar 29–Apr 12
Fuquay-VarinaApr 8–Apr 22
HickoryApr 7–Apr 21
Indian TrailApr 7–Apr 21
MonroeApr 10–Apr 24
GarnerApr 8–Apr 22
SalisburyApr 13–Apr 27
All 52 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
CharlotteFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
RaleighFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
GreensboroFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
DurhamFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
Winston-SalemFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 26
FayettevilleFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
CaryFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
WilmingtonFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 19
High PointFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
ConcordFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
GreenvilleFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
AshevilleFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
GastoniaFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
ApexFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
JacksonvilleFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 23
HuntersvilleFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
Chapel HillFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
KannapolisFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
BurlingtonFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
Wake ForestFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
MooresvilleFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
Rocky MountFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
Holly SpringsFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
WilsonFeb 8 to Feb 22Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 22
Fuquay-VarinaFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
HickoryFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
Indian TrailFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
MonroeFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
GarnerFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
SalisburyFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
LelandFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 19
CorneliusFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
GoldsboroFeb 1 to Feb 15Mar 22 to Apr 5Mar 22 to Apr 5Mar 15
New BernFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 23
SanfordFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
MatthewsFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
ClaytonFeb 24 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 7
MorrisvilleFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
StatesvilleMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
Mint HillFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
KernersvilleFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
AsheboroFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
ThomasvilleFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
ShelbyMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
KnightdaleFeb 24 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 7
WaxhawFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
ClemmonsFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
MebaneFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
CarrboroFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
HarrisburgFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
LexingtonFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
GrahamFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4

Questions

When should I plant basil in North Carolina?

In Charlotte, plant out from April 6 to April 20. Across North Carolina the window opens between March 22 and April 23, 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 North Carolina

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in North Carolina