Basil: Spacing, Yield & Planting Dates
Plant count & yield calculator
Pre-filled for this crop — adjust bed size or pick a different vegetable.
Enter bed size to count plants.
Your result
—
Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
Seed starting dates
Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule. For Basil with this frost date : start indoors ~Mar 4, transplant ~Apr 29 .
Pick a last frost date for the schedule.
Your result
—
Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
About basil
Fresh basil is the signature companion herb for tomatoes both in the garden and the kitchen, producing aromatic leaves for pesto, caprese, and Thai dishes.
Spacing & yield
Basil wants 10×12 inches and about 0.5 lb per plant at ~70 days to maturity.
Growing tips
- Pinch growing tips regularly to promote bushy growth and delay flowering.
- Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost; basil dies at the slightest frost.
- Harvest up to one-third of the plant at a time for big batches of pesto.
- Grow Thai, lemon, and purple varieties alongside Genovese for diverse culinary use.
Common mistakes
- Letting basil flower and go to seed, which turns leaves bitter.
- Transplanting outdoors before nighttime temperatures are reliably above 50 F.
- Overhead watering in the evening, promoting fusarium wilt and downy mildew.
Harvest & storage
Pinch stem tips above a leaf node throughout the season, starting about 70 days from seed.
Stand cut stems in water at room temperature; do not refrigerate fresh basil as cold blackens leaves.
Companion planting
Good neighbors for basil: tomatoes, peppers, oregano, asparagus. Avoid planting beside: sage, rue.
Planting calendar
Start indoors about 6 weeks before last frost, then transplant 2 weeks after frost. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).
Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.
Frequently asked questions
- How far apart should basil be planted?
- Space 10 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart for full bushy growth.
- How much basil does one plant produce?
- With regular pinching, one plant yields about 0.5 lb of harvestable leaves over the season.
- When should basil go outdoors?
- Transplant 2 weeks after last frost when nighttime lows stay above 50 F — basil is extremely frost-sensitive.