When to plant basil in Oregon

Basil
Plant out in Portland
Mar 4–Mar 18

Across Oregon the window opens between February 18 and June 16. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Portland
Jan 14–Jan 28
Plant out, Portland
Mar 4–Mar 18
Sow outdoors, Portland
Mar 4–Mar 18
Last sowing for a harvest
Sep 3
Last frost, Portland
Feb 25

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
PortlandMar 4–Mar 18
SalemApr 10–Apr 24
EugeneApr 18–May 2
GreshamMar 23–Apr 6
HillsboroApr 23–May 7
BendJun 13–Jun 27
BeavertonApr 8–Apr 22
MedfordApr 15–Apr 29
CorvallisApr 24–May 8
SpringfieldApr 18–May 2
TigardApr 8–Apr 22
AlbanyApr 24–May 8
AlohaFeb 18–Mar 4
Lake OswegoMar 25–Apr 8
Grants PassApr 15–Apr 29
KeizerApr 10–Apr 24
RedmondJun 16–Jun 30
Oregon CityMar 25–Apr 8
McMinnvilleApr 12–Apr 26
WoodburnMar 23–Apr 6
BethanyFeb 18–Mar 4
Happy ValleyMar 25–Apr 8
TualatinApr 8–Apr 22
WilsonvilleMar 25–Apr 8
Forest GroveApr 23–May 7
NewbergMar 28–Apr 11
West LinnMar 25–Apr 8
RoseburgMar 30–Apr 13
HayesvilleApr 10–Apr 24
MilwaukieMar 4–Mar 18
All 34 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
PortlandJan 14 to Jan 28Mar 4 to Mar 18Mar 4 to Mar 18Feb 25
SalemFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
EugeneFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
GreshamFeb 2 to Feb 16Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
HillsboroMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
BendApr 25 to May 9Jun 13 to Jun 27Jun 13 to Jun 27Jun 6
BeavertonFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
MedfordFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
CorvallisMar 6 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 17
SpringfieldFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
TigardFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
AlbanyMar 6 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 17
AlohaDec 31 to Jan 14Feb 18 to Mar 4Feb 18 to Mar 4Feb 11
Lake OswegoFeb 4 to Feb 18Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
Grants PassFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
KeizerFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
RedmondApr 28 to May 12Jun 16 to Jun 30Jun 16 to Jun 30Jun 9
Oregon CityFeb 4 to Feb 18Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
McMinnvilleFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
WoodburnFeb 2 to Feb 16Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
BethanyDec 31 to Jan 14Feb 18 to Mar 4Feb 18 to Mar 4Feb 11
Happy ValleyFeb 4 to Feb 18Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
TualatinFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
WilsonvilleFeb 4 to Feb 18Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
Forest GroveMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
NewbergFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 21
West LinnFeb 4 to Feb 18Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
RoseburgFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 23
HayesvilleFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
MilwaukieJan 14 to Jan 28Mar 4 to Mar 18Mar 4 to Mar 18Feb 25
Klamath FallsApr 28 to May 12Jun 16 to Jun 30Jun 16 to Jun 30Jun 9
AshlandMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
SherwoodFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 21
LebanonJan 31 to Feb 14Mar 21 to Apr 4Mar 21 to Apr 4Mar 14

Questions

When should I plant basil in Oregon?

In Portland, plant out from March 4 to March 18. Across Oregon the window opens between February 18 and June 16, 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 Oregon

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Oregon