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When to Plant Basil in Noble 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.

Noble County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 204 days.

At an elevation of 547 feet, Noble County receives approximately 24.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Basil during the growing season.

Noble County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
204 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
204 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Noble County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (73 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Aug 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (71 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 16 – Aug 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (77 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Sep 1

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 Noble County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4โ€“7.2) overlaps with Basil's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Basil.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). Annual compost additions will help Basil.

How to Plant Basil

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

Succession Planting Basil

4
successive plantings in your 204-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 14 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 614 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Basil

Basil needs approximately 0.6 inches of water per week (2.6" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Basil Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 2.6" 2.3" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 2.6" 3.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.6" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.6" 2.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.6" 3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.6" 2.2" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 2.6" 1.7" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Noble County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Basil Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Basil needs ~1,188 GDD — county provides 3,876 GDD Excellent fit

Basil Planting Timeline โ€” Noble County, OK

Basil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 17 Feb 17 โ€“ Mar 3
Transplant Outdoors April 21 Apr 21 โ€“ May 5
Direct Sow April 14 Apr 14 โ€“ May 5
Harvest June 16 Jun 16 โ€“ Aug 18

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 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“75 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

204 days in Noble County

Growing Tips for Basil in Noble County

Direct sow Basil outdoors after April 07 in Noble 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

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 Noble County, OK?

Noble County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 7. Plan your Basil planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Noble County, OK?

Noble County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is October 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Noble County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Noble County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.