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When to Plant Basil in Yakutat City and Borough, AK

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.

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 246 feet, Yakutat City and Borough receives approximately 40.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 66ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Basil to ensure they mature before fall.

Yakutat City and Borough, AK (Zone 6b) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 20
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25

Yakutat City and Borough Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: May 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Sep 25
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Sep 30
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: Jun 15 🍅 Harvest: Aug 10 – Oct 12

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Basil needs ~0 GDD — county provides 0 GDD May not mature

Basil Planting Timeline โ€” Yakutat City and Borough, AK

Basil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 15
Transplant Outdoors June 3 Jun 3 โ€“ Jun 17
Direct Sow May 27 May 27 โ€“ Jun 17
Harvest July 29 Jul 29 โ€“ Sep 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors
May Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

50โ€“75 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6b

Growing Season

128 days

Growing Tips for Yakutat City and Borough

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

  • Rue
  • Sage

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ 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 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Basil in Yakutat City and Borough, AK?

Yakutat City and Borough is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 20. Plan your Basil planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Yakutat City and Borough, AK?

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 20 and first fall frost is September 25.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Yakutat City and Borough gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Yakutat City and Borough, AK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.