Growing Calendar

MenuClose

HomeAboutSearch

When to plant basil in zone 8b

In zone 8b, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 17, start basil indoors February 10 to 24 and plant out March 31 to April 7.

The zone 8b schedule for basil

Start seeds indoors
February 10 to 24
Plant out
March 31 to April 7
Sow outdoors
March 31 to April 7
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
March 31
Safest planting date (10% frost risk)
April 6
First harvest, roughly
April 30 to May 7

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,613 ZIP codes in zone 8b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for basil.

Frost risk in zone 8b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 8b, the typical last frost ranges from about March 5 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 3 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from November 2 to November 24. For a typical place in the zone:

  • February 25Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • March 17Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • April 6Safe: 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 8b cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
San Antonio, TXFeb 26Jan 15 to 29Mar 5 to 12
Dallas, TXMar 2Jan 27 to Feb 10Mar 17 to 24
Fort Worth, TXMar 11Feb 5 to 19Mar 26 to Apr 2
El Paso, TXMar 2Jan 31 to Feb 14Mar 21 to 28
Las Vegas, NVJan 20Jan 23 to Feb 6Mar 13 to 20
Virginia Beach, VAMar 29Mar 4 to 18Apr 22 to 29
Arlington, TXMar 9Jan 30 to Feb 13Mar 20 to 27
Plano, TXMar 7Feb 1 to 15Mar 22 to 29
Irving, TXMar 2Jan 27 to Feb 10Mar 17 to 24
Garland, TXMar 7Feb 1 to 15Mar 22 to 29
Frisco, TXMar 18Feb 9 to 23Mar 30 to Apr 6
McKinney, TXMar 18Feb 9 to 23Mar 30 to Apr 6

How to grow basilAll zonesBasil in zone 8aBasil in zone 9aAbout zone 8b

Sources