Warm-season crops
Basil planting calendar and growing plan
Basil has a short, connected nursery plan and a separate direct-sowing option after frost. Choose the leaf-harvest system before using its compact field spacing.
Plan dates for Basil
Editable exampleTransplant outside
May 8, 2027 Suggested windowDirect sow
May 1, 2027 Earliest referencePaired transplant date (optional)
| Transplant outside | Start indoors |
|---|---|
| May 8, 2027 | Mar 27, 2027 |
Sowing windows combine possible transplant dates. Choose a paired transplant date to narrow the nursery window. Wait for suitable soil and local conditions.
Direct sowing and transplanting are alternative ways to start a crop. Keep the tasks that match your method.
Sources and conditions
Six weeks before a May 8, 2027 transplant gives March 27, 2027.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Set out after frost, using established young plants. The nursery offset is measured before transplanting.
The selected chart places setting out one week after the frost-free date.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Set out after frost, using established young plants. The nursery offset is measured before transplanting.
The zero-day reference is the frost boundary; direct sowing still requires appropriate warmth.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Direct sow after the last frost in warm conditions.
A planning reference, not a weather forecast.
Keep nursery and setting out paired
The six-week indoor duration is counted before the selected transplant date. Changing that date shifts the indoor start; it is not counted directly from last frost.
Use a leaf-crop layout
The selected row preset comes from field-grown basil guidance. It is not a microgreen sowing density or a promise that a mature potted plant stays within the same footprint.
Distinguish cuts from new batches
Harvesting leaves or cutting an established plant does not create another sowing event. This record leaves the repeat-sowing interval unfilled so a user can plan replacements deliberately.
Questions growers ask
Can I use these rows for basil microgreens?
No. Microgreens use a different harvest stage and seeding system. This spacing is for established basil plants grown for leaves.
Sources and conditions
These sources describe particular climates and growing methods. Use the conditions alongside the numbers.
Basil — Key Growing Information ↗
Field-grown basil for leaf harvest; final plant spacing and row spacing, not a dense microgreen stand.
Seed-Starting Date Calculator ↗
General nursery and setting-out reference, using a user-supplied spring frost-free date. Nursery duration is measured before setting out.
How to Grow Basil in Your Garden ↗
Basil seed or transplants after frost; the guide also describes harvest and flowering.