Herbs

Basil

Sow into punnets once frost has passed and pinch out flower buds to keep leaves coming.

Ocimum basilicum · Herbs · Annual or seasonal

When to plant Basil in Australia

Sourced timing by broad climate zone. Zones with no sourced timing for an action are left out rather than estimated.

Sow seed: Cool — Oct, Nov, Dec; Temperate — Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec; Subtropical — Jan, Feb, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec; Tropical — Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec; Arid — Jan, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Plant out seedlings: Cool — Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec; Temperate — Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec; Subtropical — Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec; Tropical — Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec; Arid — Jan, Feb, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Harvest: Cool, Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical, Arid — 6–10 weeks after sowing

Australian planting guide by climate zone

Sourced guidance by broad climate zone, shown as fixed months, timing relative to sowing or planting, or written growing advice. Your GrowCal calendar applies your regional growing profile, so its dates may sit earlier or later than the months below.

Basil planting timing by Australian climate zone
Action	Cool	Temperate	Subtropical	Tropical	Arid
Sow	Oct, Nov, Dec Details Sow seed in October-December.	Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec Details Sow seed in September-December.	Jan, Feb, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec Details Sow seed in August-February.	Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec Details Sow seed in January-December.	Jan, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec Details Sow seed in August-January.
Plant out	Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec Details Plant seedlings in November-February. Plus refines this to 4–6 weeks after sowing.	Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec Details Plant seedlings in October-March. Plus refines this to 4–6 weeks after sowing.	Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec Details Plant seedlings in September-March. Plus refines this to 4–6 weeks after sowing.	Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec Details Plant seedlings in January-December. Plus refines this to 4–6 weeks after sowing.	Jan, Feb, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec Details Plant seedlings in September-February. Plus refines this to 4–6 weeks after sowing.
Feed	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown
Prune	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown
Pest check	Guidance Details Pinch out flower buds as they appear — flavour drops once basil flowers.	Guidance Details Pinch out flower buds as they appear — flavour drops once basil flowers.	Guidance Details Pinch out flower buds as they appear — flavour drops once basil flowers.	Guidance Details Pinch out flower buds as they appear — flavour drops once basil flowers.	Guidance Details Pinch out flower buds as they appear — flavour drops once basil flowers.
Harvest	6–10 wks after sowingRelative Details Start picking leaves from about 6-10 weeks.	6–10 wks after sowingRelative Details Start picking leaves from about 6-10 weeks.	6–10 wks after sowingRelative Details Start picking leaves from about 6-10 weeks.	6–10 wks after sowingRelative Details Start picking leaves from about 6-10 weeks.	6–10 wks after sowingRelative Details Start picking leaves from about 6-10 weeks.

Only sourced growing and timing guidance is shown.

Care guidance

Sourced advice for Basil that isn't tied to a month.

Sow 2mm deep; germinates in 5-10 days.
Plant seedlings out at 10cm+ tall, spaced 25-30cm.
Apply seaweed solution or liquid fertiliser fortnightly.
Needs full sun and frost-free conditions.
Does poorly through southern winters — swap the pot to cool-season herbs.

About this data

This schedule is part of GrowCal's preview horticultural dataset — useful as general guidance, and still being validated. Conditions vary with your soil, aspect, frost and variety. Read more on the data & methodology page, or send us a correction.

Basil planting guides by city

These city guides use the same dated regional schedules as GrowCal calendars.

Other plants in the GrowCal dataset, mostly from the same category.

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