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When to plant basil in zone 9b

In zone 9b, where the last spring frost typically comes around January 31, start basil indoors January 18 to February 1 and plant out March 8 to 15.

The zone 9b schedule for basil

Start seeds indoors
January 18 to February 1
Plant out
March 8 to 15
Sow outdoors
March 8 to 15
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
March 8
First harvest, roughly
April 7 to 14

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 1,459 ZIP codes in zone 9b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for basil.

Frost risk in zone 9b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 9b, the typical last frost ranges from about January 12 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to March 1 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from January 8 to December 28. For a typical place in the zone:

  • December 18Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • January 31Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • March 1Safe: 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 9b cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Houston, TXJan 30Jan 3 to 17Feb 21 to 28
Jacksonville, FLFeb 1Dec 31 to Jan 14Feb 18 to 25
San Jose, CAJan 12Mar 8 to 22Apr 26 to May 3
Fresno, CAJan 14Feb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to 12
Sacramento, CAJan 12Feb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to 16
Bakersfield, CAJan 17Feb 8 to 22Mar 29 to Apr 5
New Orleans, LAJan 24Dec 31 to Jan 14Feb 18 to 25
Henderson, NVJan 20Jan 23 to Feb 6Mar 13 to 20

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

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