When to Plant Basil

Basil blackens at the first touch of cold. Set it out with the tomatoes, or a little later.

Basil planting dates in major cities

CityStart indoorsTransplant outside
Mesa, AZDec 21 – Jan 4Feb 8 – Feb 22
Phoenix, AZNov 27 – Dec 11Jan 15 – Jan 29
Tucson, AZDec 25 – Jan 8Feb 12 – Feb 26
Anaheim, CANov 24 – Dec 8Jan 12 – Jan 26
Bakersfield, CADec 20 – Jan 3Feb 7 – Feb 21
Fresno, CADec 3 – Dec 17Jan 21 – Feb 4
Irvine, CANov 24 – Dec 8Jan 12 – Jan 26
Long Beach, CANov 28 – Dec 12Jan 16 – Jan 30
Los Angeles, CANov 21 – Dec 5Jan 9 – Jan 23
Oakland, CANov 26 – Dec 10Jan 14 – Jan 28
Riverside, CANov 28 – Dec 12Jan 16 – Jan 30
Sacramento, CADec 1 – Dec 15Jan 19 – Feb 2
San Diego, CANov 25 – Dec 9Jan 13 – Jan 27
San Francisco, CANov 18 – Dec 2Jan 6 – Jan 20
San Jose, CANov 21 – Dec 5Jan 9 – Jan 23
Stockton, CADec 25 – Jan 8Feb 12 – Feb 26
Aurora, COMar 26 – Apr 9May 14 – May 28
Colorado Springs, COMar 22 – Apr 5May 10 – May 24
Denver, COMar 23 – Apr 6May 11 – May 25
Washington, DCFeb 15 – Mar 1Apr 5 – Apr 19
Jacksonville, FLDec 21 – Jan 4Feb 8 – Feb 22
Orlando, FLDec 14 – Dec 28Feb 1 – Feb 15
Tampa, FLDec 9 – Dec 23Jan 27 – Feb 10
Atlanta, GAFeb 10 – Feb 24Mar 31 – Apr 14
Chicago, ILFeb 27 – Mar 13Apr 17 – May 1
Indianapolis city, INMar 9 – Mar 23Apr 27 – May 11
Wichita, KSFeb 28 – Mar 14Apr 18 – May 2
Lexington-Fayette, KYMar 2 – Mar 16Apr 20 – May 4
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KYFeb 23 – Mar 9Apr 13 – Apr 27
New Orleans, LADec 11 – Dec 25Jan 29 – Feb 12
Boston, MAFeb 21 – Mar 7Apr 11 – Apr 25
Baltimore, MDFeb 10 – Feb 24Mar 31 – Apr 14
Detroit, MIMar 16 – Mar 30May 4 – May 18
Minneapolis, MNMar 12 – Mar 26Apr 30 – May 14
Kansas City, MOFeb 21 – Mar 7Apr 11 – Apr 25
Charlotte, NCFeb 16 – Mar 2Apr 6 – Apr 20
Raleigh, NCFeb 14 – Feb 28Apr 4 – Apr 18
Omaha, NEMar 5 – Mar 19Apr 23 – May 7
Albuquerque, NMMar 12 – Mar 26Apr 30 – May 14
Henderson, NVDec 9 – Dec 23Jan 27 – Feb 10
Las Vegas, NVDec 13 – Dec 27Jan 31 – Feb 14
New York, NYFeb 18 – Mar 4Apr 8 – Apr 22
Cleveland, OHFeb 25 – Mar 11Apr 15 – Apr 29
Columbus, OHMar 9 – Mar 23Apr 27 – May 11
Oklahoma City, OKFeb 21 – Mar 7Apr 11 – Apr 25
Tulsa, OKFeb 17 – Mar 3Apr 7 – Apr 21
Portland, ORJan 14 – Jan 28Mar 4 – Mar 18
Philadelphia, PAFeb 16 – Mar 2Apr 6 – Apr 20
Memphis, TNFeb 2 – Feb 16Mar 23 – Apr 6
Nashville-Davidson, TNFeb 18 – Mar 4Apr 8 – Apr 22
Arlington, TXJan 26 – Feb 9Mar 16 – Mar 30
Austin, TXJan 9 – Jan 23Feb 27 – Mar 13
Dallas, TXJan 19 – Feb 2Mar 9 – Mar 23
El Paso, TXJan 19 – Feb 2Mar 9 – Mar 23
Fort Worth, TXJan 22 – Feb 5Mar 12 – Mar 26
Houston, TXDec 22 – Jan 5Feb 9 – Feb 23
San Antonio, TXJan 14 – Jan 28Mar 4 – Mar 18
Virginia Beach, VAFeb 15 – Mar 1Apr 5 – Apr 19
Seattle, WAJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Mar 29
Milwaukee, WIMar 15 – Mar 29May 3 – May 17

Calculated from each city's average (50%) frost dates. In a cold spring, lean toward the later end of each window.

Other crops

TomatoesPeppersEggplantCucumbersZucchini and summer squashPumpkins and winter squashWatermelons and melonsGreen beansSweet cornLettuceSpinachPeasKaleBroccoliCabbageCarrotsRadishesBeetsOnions (sets or transplants)PotatoesGarlic