When to plant basil in The Dalles, OR

Start basil from seed indoors Mar 20 – Apr 3, then plant the young plants in the garden in The Dalles May 1–29.

Moderate Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

The Dalles's typical last spring frost is April 11. Frost kills basil, and warm-season crops also need warm soil. Soil here stays cold for weeks after the last frost, so planting waits until about May 1.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

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

Step by step

Start seeds indoors Mar 20 – Apr 3 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 May 1–29, 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.

Varieties that do well here

Genovese
Thai
Spicy Globe

Watch out for

Cold. Basil blackens below about 40°F, so it goes out last and comes in at the first chilly night.

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

Common questions

When is the last frost in The Dalles, OR?

Typically April 11. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 28. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for The Dalles Municipal Airport (Dallesport, WA).

Is it too late to plant basil in The Dalles?

The spring planting window runs through May 29. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around October 26.

When should I start basil from seed indoors in The Dalles?

March 20 to April 3, which is 6 to 4 weeks before the May 1 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.