Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Basil is one of the signature herbs of the subtropical garden, thriving in warmth and humidity to produce fragrant leaves throughout the growing season. Regular harvesting keeps plants compact, productive and full of flavour.
Overview
At a Glance
Peak Planting Window
September to March
Seasonal Role
Warm-season leafy herb
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Method
Seed or transplant
First Harvest
6–8 weeks
Sun
Full sun
Water
Moderate
Heat Tolerance
High
Humidity Tolerance
High
Family
Lamiaceae
Category
Herb
Planting Calendar
Monthly Planting Guide
Month-by-month suitability for coastal subtropical Australia.
Rationale
Why This Planting Window
Basil thrives in warm soil and humid conditions. Planting from spring through early autumn provides rapid growth, abundant foliage and the best flavour before cooler weather slows development.
Reference
Growing Information
Lifecycle
Tender annual
Ideal Soil Temperature
20–30°C
Germination
5–10 days
Transplant Ready
4–6 weeks
Soil
Rich, fertile, well-drained soil
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
Plant Spacing
25–30 cm
Row Spacing
30–40 cm
Frost Tolerance
Low
In the garden
Plant Care
Feeding
Improve the soil with mature compost before planting and feed lightly every 4–6 weeks during active growth.
Watering Guidance
Water consistently without waterlogging. Allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings once plants are established.
Avoid Nearby
- Rue
Watch out for
Problems & Prevention
Common Pests
Aphids, whitefly, slugs, snails and caterpillars.
Common Diseases
Downy mildew, fusarium wilt, damping off and leaf spot.
Common Mistakes
Planting into cold soil, allowing plants to flower too early, underwatering, overcrowding and harvesting too aggressively from young plants.
Picking
Harvest
First Harvest
6–8 weeks
Harvest Window
Continuous leaf harvest
Harvest Indicators
Begin harvesting once plants have several sets of mature leaves. Pinch stems above a leaf pair and harvest regularly to encourage bushy growth.
Standard
SGGS Details
Subtropical Gardener Growing Standard — profile metadata.
- SGGS Code
- HER001
- Version
- 1
- Confidence
- High
- Seasonal Role
- Warm-season leafy herb
- Crop Champion Month
- October
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