The object of the research were three cultivars of the basil: Sweet Basil, Mittelgross and Dark Opal. The basil’s transplants were planted in the field at six dates: 15, 20, 25, 30, May and 4, 9, June. The herb was harvested at the beginning of the plants’ blooming. The Sweet Basil cultivar produced the greatest yield of the herb and the cultivar Dark Opal was characterised by the largest content of the essential oil. The dates of planting the transplants: 20, 25 and 30, May turned out to be the most advantageous to obtain the greatest yields of the herb of essential oil’s high content.