When to plant basil in Washington

Basil
Plant out in Seattle
Mar 15–Mar 29

Across Washington the window opens between March 9 and May 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Seattle
Jan 25–Feb 8
Plant out, Seattle
Mar 15–Mar 29
Sow outdoors, Seattle
Mar 15–Mar 29
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 26
Last frost, Seattle
Mar 8

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
SeattleMar 15–Mar 29
SpokaneMay 3–May 17
TacomaMar 15–Mar 29
VancouverApr 5–Apr 19
BellevueMar 15–Mar 29
KentMar 27–Apr 10
EverettMar 31–Apr 14
Spokane ValleyMay 3–May 17
RentonMar 20–Apr 3
Federal WayMar 15–Mar 29
YakimaApr 15–Apr 29
KirklandMar 15–Mar 29
BellinghamApr 8–Apr 22
KennewickApr 4–Apr 18
AuburnMar 27–Apr 10
PascoMay 4–May 18
RedmondMar 15–Mar 29
MarysvilleMar 31–Apr 14
South HillApr 18–May 2
ShorelineMar 15–Mar 29
SammamishApr 6–Apr 20
RichlandApr 13–Apr 27
LakewoodMar 18–Apr 1
LaceyMay 6–May 20
OlympiaMay 6–May 20
BothellMar 15–Mar 29
BurienMar 9–Mar 23
BremertonApr 5–Apr 19
EdmondsMar 16–Mar 30
PuyallupApr 18–May 2
All 76 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
SeattleJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
SpokaneMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
TacomaJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
VancouverFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
BellevueJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
KentFeb 6 to Feb 20Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 20
EverettFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
Spokane ValleyMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
RentonJan 30 to Feb 13Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
Federal WayJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
YakimaFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
KirklandJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
BellinghamFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
KennewickFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
AuburnFeb 6 to Feb 20Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 20
PascoMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
RedmondJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
MarysvilleFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
South HillFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
ShorelineJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
SammamishFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
RichlandFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
LakewoodJan 28 to Feb 11Mar 18 to Apr 1Mar 18 to Apr 1Mar 11
LaceyMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
OlympiaMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
BothellJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
BurienJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 2
BremertonFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
EdmondsJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
PuyallupFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
LynnwoodJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Lake StevensFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
IssaquahJan 30 to Feb 13Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
ParklandJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
LongviewFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
WenatcheeFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
University PlaceJan 28 to Feb 11Mar 18 to Apr 1Mar 18 to Apr 1Mar 11
Mount VernonFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
GrahamFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
SeaTacJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 2
SpanawayFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
Walla WallaFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
PullmanMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
Des MoinesJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 2
OrchardsMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
Maple ValleyMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
TumwaterMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
CamasFeb 2 to Feb 16Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
Moses LakeMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
Mill Creek EastJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Mountlake TerraceJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
Mercer IslandJan 30 to Feb 13Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
Bainbridge IslandFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
KenmoreJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
FredericksonFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
Oak HarborJan 30 to Feb 13Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
North LynnwoodJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Battle GroundMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
EastmontJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Union Hill-Novelty HillJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
Cottage LakeMar 6 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 17
Hazel DellMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
Martha LakeJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Bonney LakeFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
ArlingtonMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
TukwilaJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 2
Silver FirsJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
CovingtonMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
Five CornersMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
EllensburgMar 27 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 8
MukilteoJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
SilverdaleFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
Bothell WestJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Mill CreekJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Port AngelesJan 29 to Feb 12Mar 19 to Apr 2Mar 19 to Apr 2Mar 12
MonroeMar 6 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 17

Questions

When should I plant basil in Washington?

In Seattle, plant out from March 15 to March 29. Across Washington the window opens between March 9 and May 15, 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 Washington

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Washington