When to Plant Holy Basil in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Holy Basil guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Mar
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
Holy basil (tulsi) is a bushy, frost-tender aromatic herb with clove-scented leaves used fresh or dried for tea and cooking.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan S
- Feb S/T
- Mar T
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep S
- Oct S/T
- Nov S/T
- Dec S/T
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Arid / Semi-Arid zone right now, Holy Basil included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Holy Basil in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Rich, fertile, well-draining loam enriched with organic matter
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 30-40cm apart, 45cm between rows
- Watering
- Keep the soil moist but never waterlogged. Water a little more in hot weather and ease off once plants are established.
- Good companions
- Tomato, Capsicum, Asparagus, Chilli peppers
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Holy Basil
Recommended Varieties
- Tulsi Rama (Green Holy Basil) (Green-leaf tulsi)
- Tulsi Krishna (Purple Holy Basil) (Purple-leaf tulsi)
- Tulsi Temperate (Kapoor) (Cool-tolerant tulsi): Suited to cooler nights than other tulsi types
Key Challenges
- Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell
- Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables
- Slugs and Snails: Eat young seedlings and tender leaves
- Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission
Pro Tips
- Incorporate compost into soil prior to planting; feed monthly with a balanced liquid organic fertiliser during peak growth
- Apply a light organic straw mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds
- Pinch out central growing tips and early flower buds to encourage bushy branching and prolong leaf production
Pests and problems for Holy Basil in Arid / Semi-Arid
- Fusarium Wilt Use free-draining soil, clean pots and rotate planting spots. Watch
- Common Garden Snail Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell Watch
- Slugs Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables Watch
- Aphids Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission Watch
- Leaf spot and downy mildew Water at soil level, space plants for airflow and avoid overhead watering. Holy basil is among the less susceptible basils. Watch
Harvesting Holy Basil
When ready: Harvest young leaves and stem tips once plants reach 15 to 20 cm tall
How to harvest: Pinch or snip shoot tips just above a leaf node using clean scissors to encourage bushy regrowth
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Holy Basil
When do you plant holy basil in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): all year
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan, Sep to Dec
Can you grow holy basil all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Holy Basil in Alice Springs?
Handles heat but not frost. Give afternoon shade in extreme heat, keep the soil moist but well drained, and water pots often in hot weather.
What soil temperature do Holy Basil need?
Holy Basil germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Holy Basil are ready to harvest?
Harvest young leaves and stem tips once plants reach 15 to 20 cm tall
What are the best Holy Basil varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Tulsi Rama (Green Holy Basil) (Green-leaf tulsi), Tulsi Krishna (Purple Holy Basil) (Purple-leaf tulsi), Tulsi Temperate (Kapoor) (Cool-tolerant tulsi): Suited to cooler nights than other tulsi types.
What grows well with Holy Basil?
Good companion plants for Holy Basil include: Tomato, Capsicum, Asparagus, Chilli peppers.
Are holy basil salt tolerant?
Only a little. Holy basil are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.