Home › Basil › Grow in Texas

Can You Grow Basil in Texas?

US · USDA Zone 8a · zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

4a–11b

Texas last frost

mid-February

Texas first frost

early December

Days to harvest

30–60 days

When to plant Basils in Texas

Start indoors

Jan 18

Transplant

Feb 15

Harvest

Mar 17 – Apr 16

Dates are approximate, based on Texas'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 Texas

Texas spans more climate zones than any state except California — from Zone 6 in the Texas Panhandle to Zone 9b in the Rio Grande Valley. Most Texans garden in Zone 7-8 with hot long summers.