Compact basil
Lamiaceae · Purchased nursery plants · compact garden planning guide
| Bed spacing | 12 × 12 in (304.8 × 304.8 mm) |
|---|---|
| Minimum sun used | 6 hours per day |
| Root depth used | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
| Container volume used | 5 L |
| Spring preparation | 7 to 21 days from your last frost |
| Maturity estimate | 30–50 days from planting the seedling |
Square-bed spacing, root-space and sun thresholds, spring offsets, germination check ranges, harvest occupancy and clearance days are selected planning settings. They are not universal cultivar rules or a guaranteed harvest schedule. Packet, nursery and local guidance take precedence.
Before planting
Buy a compact cultivar; keep above 50°F (10°C) nights and protect from cold wind.
Establish
Water the root ball after transplanting; avoid leaving the crown submerged.
Tend and harvest
Pinch growing tips once established; remove flowers to favor leaf production. Snip a few tips above leaf pairs, leaving enough growth for recovery.
Plans using this crop
Spring starts · 6+ hours sun
4×8 compact summer bed
Tiny Tim dwarf tomatoes, bush beans and compact basil for a sunny summer start.
Tiny Tim dwarf tomato · Bush snap beans · Compact basil
No indoor seed starting · 6+ hours sun
4×8 herb kitchen bed
Separate kitchen-herb zones with purchased compact seedlings and clumps.
Compact basil · Compact parsley · Chive clumps
No indoor seed starting · 6+ hours sun
4×8 late spring starter
Purchased summer seedlings and direct-sown beans when indoor sowing is already past.
Tiny Tim dwarf tomato · Compact basil · Bush snap beans
Lower sun · 6+ hours sun
4×8 six-hour sun starter
A measured six-hour location with warm-season planting conditions shown explicitly.
Bush snap beans · Compact basil · Swiss chard
Small containers · 6+ hours sun
Four 25 L kitchen containers
Four useful kitchen crops in individual containers and a 100 L mix order.
Compact basil · Compact parsley · Chive clumps · Swiss chard
References
- UMN Extension: Growing herbs
Herb spacing depends on mature size. Our spacing and partial-sun thresholds are compact-cultivar planning choices; full sun is preferable.
- UMD Extension: Growing vegetables in containers and salad tables
Sun exposure, drainage, growing media and crop-specific minimum volumes; our thresholds are conservative planning settings.
- UMN Extension: Planting the vegetable garden
Cool and warm season establishment; weather and soil readiness matter. Minnesota month dates are not used as global dates.
- UMN Extension: Planting for fall harvest
Maturity is a cultivar-dependent estimate; our extra 14-day fall buffer is an explicit planning assumption.
Updated 2026-10-13. We have not field-tested the plan in your climate.