How to grow Basil in Australia
Grow basil in full sun in warm, fertile, free-draining soil or a pot, and never rush it out while nights are cold. Keep the soil evenly moist and water at the base to avoid leaf disease.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 4 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 25 cm
- Time to harvest: 65 days
- Time to germinate: 10 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | August to March | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to March | Very frost sensitive. Start later inland. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to March | Start indoors September; transplant outdoors October onward after frost risk passes and soil warms to 18°C+. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Sow outdoors Oct to Jan once night temps stay above 10°C (typically mid-Oct). Cold soil and frost kill basil instantly; avoid Aug to Sep. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to January | Sow Sep undercover or Oct to Dec direct after frost. A Jan sowing crops into autumn. Plants die at the first cold snap in May. |
| Perth & WA | August to December | Seed indoors August, plant out late September. Succession sow in bright shade Oct to Dec; a mid Dec sowing carries pesto into February. |
| Tasmania | November and December | Narrow window. Sow Nov to Dec in the warmest spot or a greenhouse. Cold nights below 10C stop it dead. Pot up before autumn. |
| Canberra & ACT | November and December | Frost kills basil. Sow Nov to Dec after the last frost in early November. The short warm window limits the season. |
| North Queensland | April to November | Plant Apr to Nov. Townsville nurseries start basil in April. Downy mildew hits hard in the monsoon months Dec to Mar, so rest the bed then. |
| Darwin & Top End | All year | Year round in Darwin. Thrives in heat and humidity. |
Varieties
- Sweet Genovese
- Thai Sweet Basil (Horapa)
- Greek Basil
- Lemon Basil
- Dark Opal (Purple)
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
- Rue
- Sage
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pinch stem tips above a leaf pair once plants are bushy and before flowers form. Regular tip picking makes the plant branch and produce more leaves.
Storage
Stand stems in water on the bench, not the fridge. Use within 5 days. Freeze pesto.