Home › Basil › Grow in Louisiana

Can You Grow Basil in Louisiana?

US · USDA Zone 8b · zones 8a, 8b, 9a

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

4a–11b

Louisiana last frost

late January

Louisiana first frost

mid-December

Days to harvest

30–60 days

When to plant Basils in Louisiana

Start indoors

Jan 2

Transplant

Jan 30

Harvest

Mar 1 – Mar 31

Dates are approximate, based on Louisiana'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 Louisiana

Louisiana has a humid subtropical climate with very mild winters and long hot summers. Year-round cool-season growing is possible; the summer is the only limiting factor.