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Can You Grow Basil in Ontario?

Canada · Canadian Zone 5 · zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Grows well here

Basil thrives here — it loves the summer heat your zone provides.

Plant zones

4a–11b

Ontario last frost

mid-April

Ontario first frost

mid-October

Days to harvest

30–60 days

When to plant Basils in Ontario

Start indoors

Mar 18

Transplant

Apr 15

Harvest

May 15 – Jun 14

Dates are approximate, based on Ontario's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Basil

Basil is the quintessential summer herb — heat-loving fast-growing and endlessly productive when harvested regularly.

Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost. Pinch flower buds to keep the plant producing leaves. Never let it set seed. Water at the base — wet leaves cause disease. Loves heat.

Full basil growing guide →

Gardening in Ontario

Ontario spans several climate zones. Northern Ontario is Zone 3-4 with short seasons; southern Ontario is Zone 5-7 with long productive seasons. The Niagara Peninsula is one of Canada's premier fruit-growing regions.