Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Warm‑season · frost‑sensitive · direct sow
50–70 days from seed to harvest
Basil is a warm-season, frost-sensitive leafy herb in the mint family. The usual start is direct sowing, and harvest is about 50–70 days from sowing (about 7 to 10 weeks).
Primary method: direct sow
Basil is usually sown outdoors. Calendar dates for your garden are on the when-to-plant page after you choose a place.
- Sow outside. Sow seed outdoors. Germination typically takes 5–10 days.
- Grow to harvest. The harvest clock starts when you sow seed. 50–70 days from sowing (about 7 to 10 weeks).
Time to harvest
Ready to harvest about 7 to 10 weeks after sowing.
- Sow
- Sprouting
- Growing
- Harvest, earliest to latest
Dates for your area: Local dates: not yet available This guide has no calendar dates; they depend on your place.
Other start methods
Starting indoors is not the usual method for this plant.
Care basics
Sun: full sun, at least 6 hours of direct sun.
This plant does not tolerate frost.
Types and varieties
Other names: Sweet basil, Thai basil, Lemon basil, Genovese basil, Cinnamon basil, Horapa, Kemangi. Variety groups are not listed here.
Growing facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Plant name | Basil |
| Scientific name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Family | Lamiaceae (mint family) |
| Time to harvest | 50–70 days from sowing (about 7 to 10 weeks) |
| Days to germinate | 5–10 days |
| Ideal growing temperature | 21 – 29 °C |
| Minimum tolerable temperature | 10 °C |
| Maximum tolerable temperature | 35 °C |
| Start indoors | Not the usual method |
| Direct sow | Yes, usual method |
| Season type | Warm-season, frost-sensitive |
| Typical start method | Direct sow |
| Light | full sun, 6+ hours direct sun |
Glossary
- Ideal temperature
- The preferred daytime range for good growth.
- Tolerable temperature
- A wider range where the plant can still grow, less optimally.
- Harden off
- Gradually acclimating indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
- Transplant
- Moving seedlings into the garden.
- Days to harvest
- The usual time to harvest, counted from the start point named beside the number (seed, transplant, or planting).
Related
No other plants in this family are in the catalog.