When to Plant Basil in Bledsoe, TX

Basil is a fragrant warm-season herb essential to Italian and Thai cuisines. It comes in many varieties including sweet, Thai, purple, and lemon types.

Bledsoe, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 196 days.

At an elevation of 4,553 feet, Cochran County receives approximately 45.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 98°F, so Basil may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Basil will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Bledsoe, TX (Zone 7b) Moderate season

196 days

❄

Last Spring Frost April 14

➔ 196 growing days ➔

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First Fall Frost October 27

Bledsoe Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Zone Compatibility for Basil Zones 4a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b You 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Basil Planting Timeline — Bledsoe, TX

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Last Frost

First Frost

Start Indoors

Feb 24 – Mar 10

Transplant

Apr 28 – May 12

Direct Sow

Apr 21 – May 12

Harvest

Jun 23 – Aug 25

Growing season Start indoors Transplant Direct sow Harvest

Basil Planting Calendar

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 24	Feb 24 – Mar 10
Transplant Outdoors	April 28	Apr 28 – May 12
Direct Sow	April 21	Apr 21 – May 12
Harvest	June 23	Jun 23 – Aug 25

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

Month	Activities
January	—
February	Start Indoors
March	Start Indoors
April	Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May	Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June	Harvest
July	Harvest
August	Harvest
September	—
October	—
November	—
December	—

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

50–75 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

196 days in Cochran County

Growing Tips for Bledsoe

Start seeds indoors or direct sow after last frost. Pinch flower buds to extend leaf production. Harvest leaves from the top down, cutting just above a leaf pair.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Basil Seeds

Life Cycle Annual

Pollination Self-Pollinating

How to Collect Let flower spikes dry brown on the plant.

Storage Store airtight; viable 5 years at 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Isolate 150 ft between varieties. Different basil species can cross.

Get our full Seed Saving Guide for 200 plants →

Basil in Other Locations

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Your Cochran County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Cochran County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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