Basil
herb
Classic tomato companion — repels hornworms and improves flavor. Tender annual — start indoors and transplant after last frost.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 2–11
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs)
- Water
- Medium — water when top inch of soil is dry
- Soil
- Loam
- pH
- Neutral
- Spacing
- 12 in. between plants
- Per square foot
- 1 plant per square
- Days to maturity
- About 60 days
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Keep apart from
Recommended varieties
- Genovese60 daysboth
Large-leaf Italian basil — the pesto standard.
- Sweet Basil60 daysboth
All-purpose culinary basil, easy from seed.
- Thai Basil65 daysboth
Anise/licorice notes for stir-fry and pho.
Add Basil to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →