Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Start basil indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then plant out 2 weeks after your last spring frost. Space plants 10 in (25 cm) apart.
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us · source
When to plant
Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.
Optimal Indoor Start
From seedRecommended- Start indoors4 weeks before your last spring frost
- Begin hardening off1 week after your last spring frost
- Plant out2 weeks after your last spring frost
- First harvestabout 68 days after planting out
Optimal Transplant
From seed- Plant out2 weeks after your last spring frost
- First harvestabout 42 days after planting out
Optimal Direct Sow
From seed- Sow outdoors2 weeks after your last spring frost
- First harvestabout 68 days after sowing
Growing basil
- Spacing in the row
- 10 in (25 cm)
- Between rows
- 18 in (46 cm)
- Planting depth
- 1/8-1/4 inch
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Mature height
- 18-24 in
- Life cycle
- Annual
Warm-season; pinch tops to keep bushy. Frost-tender.
Feeding
- How often
- Every 2-4 weeks during active growth. Use a light, half-strength balanced or liquid feed; heavy feeding makes big plants with weaker flavour, and pots in full sun need the shorter interval.
Your basil, planned to the day.
Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.