How to grow basil
Ocimum basilicum
Get your exact dates
The windows below are relative to your frost dates. Enter your ZIP for the calendar dates.
Open the planting calendarWhen to plant basil
Start seeds indoors8 weeks before your last spring frost to 6 weeks before your last spring frost
Direct sowat your last spring frost
Growing conditions
- Spacing
- 6 to 12 in apart
- Planting depth
- 0.25 in
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6 to 7.5
Common problems
- basil downy mildew
- premature flowering
Basil by hardiness zone
Planting dates for a typical location in each zone:
Sources
Last updated 2026-06-11.