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When to plant basil in zone 6b

In zone 6b, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 23, start basil indoors March 24 to April 7 and plant out May 12 to 19.

The zone 6b schedule for basil

Start seeds indoors
March 24 to April 7
Plant out
May 12 to 19
Sow outdoors
May 12 to 19
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
May 12
First harvest, roughly
June 11 to 18

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for basil.

Frost risk in zone 6b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 10 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 6 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 9 to October 29. For a typical place in the zone:

  • April 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • April 23Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • May 9Safe: 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 6b cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Columbus, OHApr 18Mar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to 13
Boston, MAApr 4Apr 3 to 17May 22 to 29
Detroit, MIApr 21Mar 29 to Apr 12May 17 to 24
Kansas City, MOApr 4Mar 9 to 23Apr 27 to May 4
Cleveland, OHApr 8Mar 27 to Apr 10May 15 to 22
Cincinnati, OHApr 16Mar 14 to 28May 2 to 9
Pittsburgh, PAApr 24Mar 23 to Apr 6May 11 to 18
Buffalo, NYApr 24Apr 4 to 18May 23 to 30
Toledo, OHApr 20Mar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to 20
Boise City, IDApr 24Mar 28 to Apr 11May 16 to 23
Spokane, WAApr 26Apr 11 to 25May 30 to Jun 6
Rochester, NYApr 24Apr 1 to 15May 20 to 27

How to grow basilAll zonesBasil in zone 6aBasil in zone 7aAbout zone 6b

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