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What Time Of Year Should You Plant Basil For A Flavorful Harvest?
By BROOKE YOUNGER
Basil needs about six to eight hours of bright sunlight daily and will thrive in temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity hovering around 40% to 60%.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone is also crucial. For zones 3 and 4, start basil seeds indoors in early April or outdoors in early May, planting seedlings by the end of May.
In zones 5 through 7, you can start basil seeds a bit earlier, around early March indoors or in April if planting outdoors. Transplant the seedlings by the end of May.
Zones 8 and 9 tend to be quite warm, so you can start the basil seeds in January or February and plant them around the beginning of March after the final frost of the season.
For zones 10, 11, and beyond, wait until October to start seeds indoors or plant outdoors in early December, allowing for harvesting throughout the winter.