When to plant garlic by zone
Allium sativum is a cool-season crop that is hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: plant cloves in fall, from your first fall frost to 3 weeks after it, so they root before the ground freezes but do not sprout above ground until spring; where the first frost comes after November 1, plant Oct 15–Nov 30.
Garlic planting dates by zone
Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Oct 15 – Dec 15.
| Zone | Median last frost | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a* | May 29 | — | — | — | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| 1b* | May 29 | — | — | — | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| 2a | May 21 | — | — | — | Sep 1 – Sep 22 |
| 2b* | May 20 | — | — | — | Sep 3 – Sep 24 |
| 3a* | Jun 4 | — | — | — | Sep 6 – Sep 27 |
| 3b* | May 24 | — | — | — | Sep 18 – Oct 9 |
| 4a | May 12 | — | — | — | Sep 27 – Oct 18 |
| 4b | May 5 | — | — | — | Oct 4 – Oct 25 |
| 5a | May 4 | — | — | — | Oct 3 – Oct 24 |
| 5b | May 4 | — | — | — | Oct 9 – Oct 30 |
| 6a | May 4 | — | — | — | Oct 9 – Oct 30 |
| 6b | Apr 26 | — | — | — | Oct 21 – Nov 11 |
| 7a | Apr 22 | — | — | — | Oct 21 – Nov 11 |
| 7b | Apr 10 | — | — | — | Oct 27 – Nov 17 |
| 8a | Apr 1 | — | — | — | Oct 15 – Nov 30 |
| 8b | Mar 22 | — | — | — | Oct 15 – Nov 30 |
| 9a | Mar 11 | — | — | — | Oct 15 – Nov 30 |
| 9b | Feb 12 | — | — | — | Oct 15 – Nov 30 |
| 10a | Jan 26 | — | — | — | Oct 15 – Nov 30 |
| 10b | Jan 27 | — | — | — | Oct 15 – Nov 30 |
| 11a | Rare | Oct 15 – Dec 15 | |||
| 11b* | Rare | Oct 15 – Dec 15 | |||
| 12a* | Rare | Oct 15 – Dec 15 | |||
| 12b | Rare | Oct 15 – Dec 15 | |||
| 13a* | Rare | Oct 15 – Dec 15 | |||
| 13b* | Rare | Oct 15 – Dec 15 | |||
Growing tips
- Plant individual cloves pointed end up, 2–4 in deep; separate the bulb no more than a day or two before planting and use the largest cloves.
- Once the ground starts to freeze, mulch with 4–6 in of straw or shredded leaves to limit frost heaving; pull it back in spring when shoots appear.
- Hardneck types suit cold winters; softneck types store longer and do better where winters are mild.
- Harvest when about half the leaves have turned brown, usually early to mid summer, then cure the bulbs for about two weeks in a dry, airy, shaded place.
Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.
Exact dates for your city
Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.
Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets
Garlic planting questions
When should I plant garlic?
In fall. Plant cloves from about your first fall frost to 3 weeks after it, when the soil at 4 inches has cooled to about 50°F. University extension services give similar timing: one to two weeks after the first killing frost (University of Minnesota), two to three weeks after it (South Dakota State), or about three weeks before the ground freezes (University of Vermont). Examples using the median frost dates of cities on this site: zone 4b (median first fall frost Oct 4): Oct 4 – Oct 25; zone 5b (median first fall frost Oct 9): Oct 9 – Oct 30; zone 6b (median first fall frost Oct 21): Oct 21 – Nov 11; zone 7a (median first fall frost Oct 21): Oct 21 – Nov 11; zone 8a (median first fall frost Nov 3): Oct 15 – Nov 30.
Is it too late to plant garlic?
Usually not until the ground freezes. Cloves planted toward the end of the window still root while the soil is workable; mulch them well. If you miss fall entirely, you can plant in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, but spring-planted garlic tends to make smaller bulbs because it gets less cold exposure.
Why is garlic planted in fall instead of spring?
Garlic needs a period of cold (roughly 32–50°F for about two months) to form a bulb divided into cloves. Fall planting gives the cloves that cold naturally and lets them build roots before winter, which gives the biggest bulbs.
When do you plant garlic where winters are mild?
Where the first fall frost comes after November 1 (most of zones 8–9), plant Oct 15–Nov 30. Where frost is rare, plant Oct 15 – Dec 15 and consider chilling the cloves in the refrigerator for several weeks before planting so they bulb properly. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.
How deep and how far apart should I plant garlic?
Plant cloves pointed end up, 2–4 inches deep and 4–6 in apart, in rows about 12–18 inches apart. After the ground starts to freeze, cover the bed with 4–6 inches of straw or shredded leaves.
When is garlic ready to harvest?
About 8–9 months after fall planting, usually early to mid summer. Dig the bulbs when about half the leaves have browned, then cure them in a dry, airy, shaded place for about two weeks.