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When to plant basil in zone 8a

In zone 8a, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 29, start basil indoors February 22 to March 8 and plant out April 12 to 19.

The zone 8a schedule for basil

Start seeds indoors
February 22 to March 8
Plant out
April 12 to 19
Sow outdoors
April 12 to 19
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
April 12
Safest planting date (10% frost risk)
April 14
First harvest, roughly
May 12 to 19

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,584 ZIP codes in zone 8a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for basil.

Frost risk in zone 8a

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 8a, the typical last frost ranges from about March 18 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 7 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 31 to November 16. For a typical place in the zone:

  • March 9Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • March 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • April 14Safe: 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 8a cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Charlotte, NCMar 30Feb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to 19
Memphis, TNMar 16Feb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to 12
Baltimore, MDMar 24Mar 5 to 19Apr 23 to 30
Atlanta, GAMar 15Feb 14 to 28Apr 4 to 11
Raleigh, NCMar 28Feb 24 to Mar 10Apr 14 to 21
Greensboro, NCMar 30Feb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to 24
Durham, NCMar 31Feb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to 20
Winston-Salem, NCMar 30Feb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to 24
Chesapeake, VAMar 17Feb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to 22
Huntsville, ALMar 24Feb 16 to Mar 2Apr 6 to 13
Fayetteville, NCMar 30Feb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to 19
Little Rock, ARMar 21Feb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to 17

How to grow basilAll zonesBasil in zone 7bBasil in zone 8bAbout zone 8a

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