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When to Plant Basil in Texas County, OK

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.

Texas County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 187 days.

At an elevation of 870 feet, Texas County receives approximately 20.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Basil during the growing season.

Texas County, OK (Zone 6b) Moderate season
187 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
187 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Texas County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (53 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (53 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Sep 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.

Soil Compatibility in Texas County

How your county's soil matches Basil's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.8) is more alkaline than Basil prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Texas County is excellent for Basil โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) โ€” Basil will thrive.

How to Plant Basil

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Basil

4
successive plantings in your 187-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 06 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 288 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Basil needs ~1,047 GDD — county provides 3,132 GDD Excellent fit

Basil Planting Timeline โ€” Texas County, OK

Basil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 26 Feb 26 โ€“ Mar 12
Transplant Outdoors April 30 Apr 30 โ€“ May 14
Direct Sow April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ May 14
Harvest June 25 Jun 25 โ€“ Aug 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.6"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“75 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

187 days in Texas County

Growing Tips for Basil in Texas County

Direct sow Basil outdoors after April 16 in Texas County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

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 Texas County, OK?

Texas County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Basil planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Texas County, OK?

Texas County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 20.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Texas County 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 Texas County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.