Rainline Garden

When to plant basil in Yakima, WA

Start basil from seed indoors Mar 27 – Apr 10, then plant the young plants in the garden in Yakima May 8 – Jun 5.

Moderate Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Yakima's typical last spring frost is May 8. Frost kills basil, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around May 8. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible.

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

  1. Start seeds indoors Mar 27 – Apr 10 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.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden May 8 – Jun 5, 12 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. 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 Yakima, WA?

Typically May 8. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 27. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Yakima Air Terminal.

Is it too late to plant basil in Yakima?

The spring planting window runs through June 5. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around October 4.

When should I start basil from seed indoors in Yakima?

March 27 to April 10, which is 6 to 4 weeks before the May 8 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Yakima around the same time

Planting dates for basil in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Yakima · Basil in every city