How to grow basil in a raised bed
Pinch off flower buds so it keeps making leaves. Grows well next to tomatoes.
Spacing4 plants per square foot
How to startStart seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost, or buy young plants
When to plantAbout 2 weeks after your last spring frost
Time to harvestAbout 60 days
Grows toAbout 18 in tall
When to plant basil in your zone
Dates are based on the average frost dates for each zone. Don't know your zone? Enter your ZIP code in the planner.
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the bed | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 8 | Jun 3 | — |
| Zone 3b | Apr 3 | May 29 | — |
| Zone 4a | Mar 31 | May 26 | — |
| Zone 4b | Mar 27 | May 22 | — |
| Zone 5a | Mar 23 | May 18 | — |
| Zone 5b | Mar 17 | May 12 | — |
| Zone 6a | Mar 11 | May 6 | — |
| Zone 6b | Mar 4 | Apr 29 | — |
| Zone 7a | Feb 25 | Apr 22 | — |
| Zone 7b | Feb 18 | Apr 15 | — |
| Zone 8a | Feb 11 | Apr 8 | — |
| Zone 8b | Feb 1 | Mar 29 | — |
| Zone 9a | Jan 18 | Mar 15 | — |
| Zone 9b | Jan 4 | Mar 1 | — |
| Zone 10a | Dec 20 | Feb 14 | — |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Jan 29 | — |
Tips for raised beds
- In square-foot gardening, plant 4 plants in each 1 × 1 ft square.
- It stays fairly short, so it can go near the south (sunny) edge of the bed.
- Most vegetables and fruit need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Where to buy basil seeds
Burpee · True Leaf Market · Botanical Interests
Plan where your basil go. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
Open the free planner →