When to plant basil in Virginia

Basil
Plant out in Virginia Beach
Apr 5–Apr 19

Across Virginia the window opens between March 23 and May 1. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Virginia Beach
Feb 15–Mar 1
Plant out, Virginia Beach
Apr 5–Apr 19
Sow outdoors, Virginia Beach
Apr 5–Apr 19
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 15
Last frost, Virginia Beach
Mar 29

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
Virginia BeachApr 5–Apr 19
RichmondApr 10–Apr 24
ArlingtonMar 31–Apr 14
NorfolkMar 23–Apr 6
Newport NewsApr 8–Apr 22
AlexandriaMar 31–Apr 14
HamptonMar 31–Apr 14
SuffolkApr 3–Apr 17
RoanokeApr 10–Apr 24
PortsmouthMar 30–Apr 13
LynchburgApr 24–May 8
Dale CityApr 19–May 3
CentrevilleApr 22–May 6
RestonApr 21–May 5
HarrisonburgApr 28–May 12
McLeanApr 16–Apr 30
LeesburgApr 23–May 7
TuckahoeApr 17–May 1
AshburnApr 20–May 4
BlacksburgMay 1–May 15
Lake RidgeApr 19–May 3
CharlottesvilleApr 9–Apr 23
ManassasApr 19–May 3
WoodbridgeApr 4–Apr 18
BurkeApr 21–May 5
Linton HallApr 19–May 3
AnnandaleApr 21–May 5
DanvilleApr 15–Apr 29
MechanicsvilleApr 17–May 1
OaktonApr 21–May 5
All 64 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
Virginia BeachFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
RichmondFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
ArlingtonFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
NorfolkFeb 2 to Feb 16Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
Newport NewsFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
AlexandriaFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
HamptonFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
SuffolkFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
RoanokeFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
PortsmouthFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 23
LynchburgMar 6 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 17
Dale CityMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
CentrevilleMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
RestonMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
HarrisonburgMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
McLeanFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
LeesburgMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
TuckahoeFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
AshburnMar 2 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 13
BlacksburgMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
Lake RidgeMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
CharlottesvilleFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
ManassasMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
WoodbridgeFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
BurkeMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
Linton HallMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
AnnandaleMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
DanvilleFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
MechanicsvilleFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
OaktonMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
Fair OaksMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
South RidingMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
PetersburgFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
SterlingMar 2 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 13
SpringfieldFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
West Falls ChurchMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
FredericksburgFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
WinchesterFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
Short PumpFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
TysonsMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
StauntonMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
FairfaxMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
Cave SpringFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
SalemFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
HerndonMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
Bailey's CrossroadsFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
BrambletonMar 2 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 13
WaynesboroMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
ChantillyMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
ChesterFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
Cherry HillFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
HopewellFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
West SpringfieldMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
LeesylvaniaFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
McNairMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
ChristiansburgMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
MontclairFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
CulpeperMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
LortonFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
WoodlawnFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
Rose HillFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
MerrifieldMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
BuckhallMar 1 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 12
MeadowbrookFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3

Questions

When should I plant basil in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, plant out from April 5 to April 19. Across Virginia the window opens between March 23 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 Virginia

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Virginia