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When to plant basil in zone 3b

In zone 3b, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 17, start basil indoors April 20 to May 4 and plant out June 8 to 15.

The zone 3b schedule for basil

Start seeds indoors
April 20 to May 4
Plant out
June 8 to 15
Sow outdoors
June 8 to 15
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
June 8
First harvest, roughly
July 8 to 15

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 200 ZIP codes in zone 3b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for basil.

Frost risk in zone 3b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 3b, the typical last frost ranges from about May 12 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 29 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 13 to October 1. For a typical place in the zone:

  • May 4Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 17Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • May 30Safe: 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 3aBasil in zone 4aAbout zone 3b

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