When to plant Basil
Calendar windows
Dates shift with your latitude — they are calculated from your local last-spring-frost date, not from a fixed calendar.
At a glance
Killed by any frost — plant out only after the last one.
Practical notes
Never plant out until nights hold above 10°C — one cold night and it sulks for a fortnight. Water in the morning, at the base only; wet leaves overnight are exactly what basil downy mildew needs.
Knowing when to pick
Pinch out the growing tip above a pair of leaves as soon as the plant has six leaves, and keep pinching — never strip the lower leaves. Remove flower buds on sight.
Storing the crop
Stand cut stems in water on the worktop, never in the fridge. For winter, blend with oil and freeze in ice-cube trays — drying loses almost all the aroma.
Crop rotation
Mostly perennial — give them a permanent sunny spot rather than a rotation slot.
Grows well with
Keep apart from
Watch for
Full guide: basil diseases and pests (3) → with spread routes, compost verdicts and the prevention this list justifies.