When to plant basil in Oregon and Washington

In Portland: Start basil from seed indoors Mar 29 – Apr 12, then plant the young plants in the garden May 10 – Jun 7. In Bend: Jun 9 – Jul 7. Find your city below.

Difficulty: Moderate
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 12 inches apart
Planting depth: Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot
Frost: Killed by frost
First harvest: About 60 days after planting

Blackens below about 40°F, so it's the last thing to go out.

Basil planting dates by city

City	Start seeds indoors	Plant in the garden
Astoria, OR	Apr 8–22	May 20 – Jun 17
Baker City, OR	Apr 13–27	May 25 – Jun 22
Bend and Redmond, OR	Apr 28 – May 12	Jun 9 – Jul 7
Burns, OR	Apr 30 – May 14	Jun 11 – Jul 9
Coos Bay and North Bend, OR	Apr 8–22	May 20 – Jun 17
Eugene, OR	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Gresham, OR	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Klamath Falls, OR	Apr 28 – May 12	Jun 9 – Jul 7
Medford, OR	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Pendleton, OR	Mar 20 – Apr 3	May 1–29
Portland, OR	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Roseburg, OR	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Salem, OR	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
The Dalles, OR	Mar 20 – Apr 3	May 1–29
Wilsonville and Canby, OR	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA	Apr 8–22	May 20 – Jun 17
Bellingham, WA	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Ellensburg, WA	Apr 8–22	May 20 – Jun 17
Everett, WA	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Forks, WA	Apr 8–22	May 20 – Jun 17
Moses Lake, WA	Mar 20 – Apr 3	May 1–29
Olympia, WA	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Omak and Okanogan, WA	Apr 8–22	May 20 – Jun 17
Seattle and Tacoma, WA	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Spokane, WA	Apr 8–22	May 20 – Jun 17
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA	Mar 20 – Apr 3	May 1–29
Vancouver, WA	Mar 29 – Apr 12	May 10 – Jun 7
Walla Walla, WA	Mar 20 – Apr 3	May 1–29
Wenatchee, WA	Mar 20 – Apr 3	May 1–29
Yakima, WA	Mar 27 – Apr 10	May 8 – Jun 5

How to grow basil

Start seeds indoors on your city's dates in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 12 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Harvest: Pinch off the top pair of leaves often so plants bush out, and remove flower buds.