Thai Basil
Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora
Thai Basil is a vigorous warm-season herb producing aromatic leaves with a distinctive anise flavour. It thrives in subtropical heat and humidity and responds exceptionally well to regular harvesting.
Overview
At a Glance
Peak Planting Window
September to March
Seasonal Role
Warm-season culinary 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
Thai Basil thrives in warm humid conditions and grows rapidly once soil temperatures rise. Regular harvesting encourages branching and continuous leafy production throughout the warm season.
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
Watch out for
Problems & Prevention
Common Pests
Aphids, whitefly, caterpillars and slugs.
Common Diseases
Downy mildew, fusarium wilt and leaf spot.
Common Mistakes
Planting into cool soil, allowing flowering too early, overcrowding plants and inconsistent watering.
Picking
Harvest
First Harvest
6–8 weeks
Harvest Window
Continuous leaf harvest
Harvest Indicators
Harvest stems above leaf pairs once plants become bushy. Remove flowers promptly to prolong leaf production.
Standard
SGGS Details
Subtropical Gardener Growing Standard — profile metadata.
- SGGS Code
- HER012
- Version
- 1
- Confidence
- High
- Seasonal Role
- Warm-season culinary herb
- Crop Champion Month
- October
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