When to Plant Holy Basil in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Holy Basil guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- All year
- 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 Tropical
- Jan S
- Feb S/T
- Mar S/T
- Apr S/T
- May S/T
- Jun S/T
- Jul S/T
- Aug S/T
- Sep S/T
- Oct S/T
- Nov S/T
- Dec S/T
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
You can sow holy basil in any month in Tropical, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical 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 Tropical 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
Tropical Growing Tips for Holy Basil
Recommended Varieties
- Rama Tulsi: Vigorous green-leaved tropical perennial with strong spicy scent and flavour
- 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 Tropical
- 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 Cairns?
Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Tropical zone, though not every month is equally easy. Sow year-round in full sun or light shade with free-draining fertile soil.
When should I plant Holy Basil in Cairns?
Sow year-round in full sun or light shade with free-draining fertile soil.
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 Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Rama Tulsi: Vigorous green-leaved tropical perennial with strong spicy scent and flavour, 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.