When to Plant Basil in Perth, Mediterranean Guide
Sow August to February. Right now in October you can sow.
Grow Basil in your space
- Planting window
- A summer herb. Plant seedlings once nights stay above about 12 degrees (late September in Perth, October in Adelaide) and keep sowing...
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sunlight
- Full sun (minimum 6 hours). More sun = more essential oils = more flavour.
- Water needs
- Regular, consistent watering. Basil wilts dramatically when dry but recovers quickly...
- Spacing
- 25cm apart, 40cm between rows
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Basil guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The king of summer herbs. Sweet basil (O. basilicum) is the standard culinary variety, but Thai basil (O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora), lemon basil (O. x citriodorum), and purple basil (O. basilicum 'Purpurascens') each bring distinct flavours. Extremely frost-sensitive. Even a light frost kills it dead. Thrives in warm conditions across most of Australia from spring through autumn.
See what grows now in your own postcode
Planting Calendar for Mediterranean
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/D | D | - | - | - | - | - | S | S/T | S/T/D | S/T/D | T/D |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 16.9°C (optimal range: 18–35°C) ✗ Outside optimal range
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Perth), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like
In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.
How to Grow Basil in Mediterranean Australia
When to Plant
A summer herb. Plant seedlings once nights stay above about 12 degrees (late September in Perth, October in Adelaide) and keep sowing through summer.
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Warm soil is critical.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun (minimum 6 hours). More sun = more essential oils = more flavour.
- Spacing
- 25cm apart, 40cm between rows
- Watering
- Regular, consistent watering. Basil wilts dramatically when dry but recovers quickly. Water at base, not overhead, to reduce fungal issues. Morning watering preferred.
Companion plants: Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Marigold
Avoid planting near: Rue, Sage, Common Thyme
Mediterranean Growing Tips for Basil
Recommended Varieties
- Genovese
- Large Leaf Italian
- Thai basil
- Lemon basil
- Purple basil
Key Challenges
- Water stress in dry summers
- Need consistent irrigation
- Wind exposure can damage soft leaves
Pro Tips
- Excellent basil climate, warm, dry, sunny
- Drip irrigation for consistent moisture without wet foliage
- Make pesto in bulk in January when plants are at peak
Harvesting Basil
When ready: Begin harvesting when plants have 6+ sets of leaves. Harvest before or at first sign of flower buds for best flavour.
How to harvest: Pinch or cut stems just above a leaf pair. This encourages two new shoots from that node. Never strip more than 1/3 of plant at once. Harvest in morning after dew dries when essential oil concentration peaks.
Common Basil Pests in Mediterranean Zones
Aphids and Fungal Issues, risk: LOW (score: 37/100)Organic prevention (Aphids): Avoid excess nitrogen. Companion plant with marigolds. Check plants regularly.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join GardenBuddy.auCommon Questions About Basil
When do you plant 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 to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
Does basil grow all year round in Perth?
No. In the Mediterranean zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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 Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.