Australian Outback

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Australian Outback to a garden.

Aromatic as sun-warmed air, Australian Outback Basil fills the garden with a bold, sweet-spicy fragrance and a bright, herbal flavor that lingers on the tongue.

Leaves are tender and lush, with a smooth, velvety texture that shines fresh and holds its character beautifully when used to perfume sauces, dressings, and finishing oils. Grow it for quick, satisfying harvests—ready in about 40 days—so you can keep your plants producing with every pinch.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 40 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Australian Outback

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Australian Outback Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Apr 20th	Jul 27th	Sep 5th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 13th	Jul 20th	Aug 29th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Aug 19th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Aug 19th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	Jul 14th	Aug 23rd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Aug 19th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	Jul 8th	Aug 17th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Aug 12th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	Jun 29th	Aug 8th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Aug 5th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Jun 20th	Jul 30th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Jun 15th	Jul 25th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Jun 5th	Jul 15th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	May 27th	Jul 6th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	May 18th	Jun 27th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	May 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Apr 6th	May 16th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	40
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This basil is built for fragrance-forward cooking: the leaves stay tender and silky, so they don’t turn stringy when you tear them in or briefly blitz them. Use it at the end—its sweet-spicy top notes lift hardest when you’re not cooking it into submission.

Best Uses

tear-fresh onto warm flatbread with a slick of olive oil and flaky salt
pulse into a fast, no-cook green dressing (lemon + oil) to keep it vibrant
fold into pesto-style sauces for a fragrant, peppery-lift finish
steep briefly into finishing oils or vinegar—long enough to perfume, not bitter

Flavor Profile

bold sweet-spicy aroma bright green herbal snap tender velvety leaf texture lingering, clean finish

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil lemon juice garlic parmesan mozzarella grilled chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my Australian Outback plants develop powdery mildew or leaf spots?

Australian Outback can get powdery mildew in warm, humid spells, showing as a white dust on leaves and older foliage. Remove the worst affected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil line (not overhead). If it keeps spreading, spray with a labeled powdery mildew fungicide and repeat according to the label schedule.

How often should I water Australian Outback during the main growing phase?

From when seedlings establish through the main growth phase, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water deeply about 2–3 times per week depending on heat and soil type—aim for a thorough soak then allow the surface to dry slightly before watering again. In containers, check daily; small pots dry faster and may need more frequent, lighter waterings.

How can I tell when Australian Outback is ready to harvest at about 40 days?

Harvest when the crop reaches its full color and size for the variety and the stems/foliage look firm rather than limp. If you’re growing for edible fruits/heads, pick when they feel fully filled and have reached the expected maturity color; don’t wait for over-softening. Do a quick test harvest on one plant—if flavor and texture match what you expect, proceed with the rest.