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When to plant basil in zone 5a

In zone 5a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 3, start basil indoors April 4 to 18 and plant out May 23 to 30.

The zone 5a schedule for basil

Start seeds indoors
April 4 to 18
Plant out
May 23 to 30
Sow outdoors
May 23 to 30
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
May 23
First harvest, roughly
June 22 to 29

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,200 ZIP codes in zone 5a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for basil.

Frost risk in zone 5a

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 27 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 21 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 25 to October 13. For a typical place in the zone:

  • April 20Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 3Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • May 17Safe: 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

Basil in zone 5a cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Minneapolis, MNApr 23Mar 31 to Apr 14May 19 to 26
St. Paul, MNApr 23Mar 31 to Apr 14May 19 to 26
Anchorage, AKMay 5Mar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to 19
Sioux Falls, SDMay 1Mar 30 to Apr 13May 18 to 25
Cedar Rapids, IAApr 28Mar 23 to Apr 6May 11 to 18
Billings, MTMay 10Apr 14 to 28Jun 2 to 9
Bloomington, MNApr 23Mar 29 to Apr 12May 17 to 24
Sioux City, IAApr 29Mar 27 to Apr 10May 15 to 22
Brooklyn Park, MNApr 30Apr 2 to 16May 21 to 28
Woodbury, MNApr 24Mar 31 to Apr 14May 19 to 26
Plymouth, MNApr 29Apr 2 to 16May 21 to 28
Blaine, MNApr 30Apr 2 to 16May 21 to 28

How to grow basilAll zonesBasil in zone 4bBasil in zone 5bAbout zone 5a

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