When to plant basil in USDA Zone 9b

Plan your basil planting around local frost risk and soil temperature, then work backward from the harvest week your buyers need. The calendar below is a starting point, not a field-level weather forecast.

Orlando, Tampa, San Antonio, southern LA coast. Average last spring frost February 5, first fall frost December 15 — a 313-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent
Basil is well suited to Zone 9b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors
December 18 – January 1
Transplant outdoors
February 12 – March 5
Expected first harvest
April 15 – May 13
Fall planting window
September 29 – October 20
Fall harvest window
November 30 – December 28

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing
12″
Row spacing
18″
Seed depth
0.125″
Soil temperature
70–90°F
Frost tolerance
tender
Days to harvest
55 days

Grower notes for Zone 9b

Pinch flowers weekly to keep leaves productive. Fusarium-resistant varieties are essential for repeat plantings in the same beds.

Plant near: tomatoes, peppers

Keep away from: rue

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.