When to plant basil in San Francisco
Basil is frost-tender, so every date keys off San Francisco's last spring frost.
Step 1 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
Jul 6 – Jul 27
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 2 · Harvest
Harvest window
Sep 4 – Oct 4
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 90 d
From sowing to first pick.
Common questions
When can I sow basil outdoors in San Francisco?
Direct-sow around early July (Jul 6–Jul 27) in San Francisco, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
When will basil be ready to harvest in San Francisco?
Expect to harvest from around early September (Sep 4–Oct 4) in San Francisco, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 76%.
How long is the growing season in San Francisco?
San Francisco has roughly 365 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow basil to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow basil 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and San Francisco's frost dates.
Confidence 84/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.