Best time to plant basil in Australia
Ocimum basilicum
Also called sweet basil, Genovese basil, Thai basil
A tender member of the mint family, basil is grown for its fragrant leaves, which flavour dishes around the world. Sweet or Genovese basil is the type most Western cooks mean, while Thai and lemon basil bring other aromas. It usually lasts one season, though warm gardens can keep it longer.
On a shared plot: suits a plot
Finishes in a season and stays within its space, so it suits most plots.
When to sow
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoolNot yet checked against a local guide | Sow | Sow | No | No | No | No | No | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow |
| TemperateNot yet checked against a local guide | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow |
| SubtropicalNot yet checked against a local guide | Sow | Sow | No | No | No | No | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow |
| TropicalNot yet checked against a local guide | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow |
| AridNot yet checked against a local guide | Sow | Sow | No | No | No | No | No | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow |
Good months to sow
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Growing details
- How to start
- Sow directly or raise seedlings
- Sowing depth
- 2mm
- Plant spacing
- 45cm
- Row spacing
- 45cm
- Height
- 60cm
- Germination
- 5-10 days at 18-35°C
- Frost
- Frost tender
- Sun
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- annual
These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.