How Far Apart to Plant Basil
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GardenSays
Your 8×4 ft raised bed fits 18 basil plants at 15-inch spacing.
- Between plants
- 15 in
- Grid
- 6 × 3
- Total plants
- 18
Basil plants need 12-18 inches between plants, and in a raised bed you can use that same spacing in both directions — no walking rows needed. At the 15-inch midpoint, that's 6 along the bed and 3 across — 18 plants.
Calculated result · 1 verified source · Checked 2026-07-15 · How we decide
Why
Crowding is the most common spacing mistake: closer planting doesn't add yield, it adds shade, disease pressure, and small fruit. When in doubt, use the wider end of the range.
- Air circulation between mature plants is the cheapest disease prevention there is.
- Roots spread wider than the plant looks in June — spacing is set for August size.
When this doesn't apply
- Compact basil plants can take the tight end of the range; large or vigorous ones want the wide end.
- Square-foot gardening compresses further than these numbers — it trades yield per plant for yield per bed and needs diligent feeding.
How this was calculated
- 1. In-row spacing15 in
Basil: 12-18 inches between plants (extension guidance); midpoint used
- 2. Intensive grid6 × 3 plants
Raised beds skip walking paths: plants sit on a 15×15 inch grid. 96÷15 along, 48÷15 across (edge margins included in the division)
- 3. Total18 plants
6 × 3
Data sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Growing basil in home gardens — Space basil plants about a foot apart so air can move between mature plants. (checked 2026-07-15)
What changes this answer
Layout
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