Growing profiles
Choose how this crop will be grown. Dimensions, spacing and timing belong to the selected profile—not to the species as a single universal value.
Standard basil
Standard culinary basil grown for repeated leaf harvest.
- Biological height
- 30–75 cm (12–30 in) Source
- Mature canopy
- 25–50 cm (10–20 in) Source
- Plant spacing
- 20–40 cm (8–16 in) Source
- Row spacing
- 30–50 cm (12–20 in) Source
- Layout
- single row · open ground Source
- Support
- Usually unnecessary
- Container
- At least 7.5 L (2 US gal) · 1 plant Source
- Best germination temperature
- 24 °C (75 °F) Source
Climate-relative calendar
Planning estimates become local dates after the gardener supplies frost dates and current conditions. Harvest and crop-removal dates are estimates: actual crop condition takes priority.
Sow Basil indoors42 days before last spring frost to 28 days before last spring frost SourceSourceRequired: Soil temperature between 15 °C (59 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F). Source
Harden off Basil7 days before last spring frost to last spring frost Source
Transplant Basil outdoors7 days after last spring frost to 21 days after last spring frost SourceRequired: Soil temperature at least 10 °C (50 °F) for 3 consecutive days. SourceCheck before proceeding: Forecast frost risk no more than 25%. Source
Begin harvesting Basil30 days after transplanting to 50 days after transplanting Source
Finish harvesting Basil45 days after first harvest to 90 days after first harvest
Remove Basil cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest
Agronomy release agronomy-2026-07-11-r1 · reviewed 2026-07-11 by Gardeningist agronomic research synthesis. Each fact links to its supporting source.