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 | Months | How well checked |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | Sep to Feb | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Temperate | Sep to Dec | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Subtropical | Aug to Feb | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Tropical | All year | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Arid | Sep to Feb | Not yet checked against a local guide |
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.