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When to plant basil in zone 3a

In zone 3a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 26, start basil indoors April 23 to May 7 and plant out June 11 to 18.

The zone 3a schedule for basil

Start seeds indoors
April 23 to May 7
Plant out
June 11 to 18
Sow outdoors
June 11 to 18
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
June 11
First harvest, roughly
July 11 to 18

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 8 ZIP codes in zone 3a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for basil.

Frost risk in zone 3a

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 3a, the typical last frost ranges from about May 10 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to June 2 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 12 to October 1. For a typical place in the zone:

  • May 10Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 26Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • June 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

Basil are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.

Your dates for basil

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant basil where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

Enter your ZIP code

How to grow basilAll zonesBasil in zone 2aBasil in zone 3bAbout zone 3a

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