Delaware · zones 7b7b

When to plant basil in Delaware.

Sow or transplant between May 3 to Jul 19 in a typical year, keyed to Delaware's median last frost around Apr 12. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.

The 2026 windows

Basil dates for a typical Delaware season.

1 · Start indoors

Mar 22 to Jun 7

About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.

2 · Set out

May 3 to Jul 19

Keyed to the ~Apr 12 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 8" apart.

Harvest

~40 days later

~0.5 lb per plant over ~12 weeks.

Delaware spans more than one climate: Zone 7 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7b to 7b. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone — mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.