When to plant Garlic in California
In spring, from Feb 1 – Mar 1 in Adelanto to May 15 – June 1 in Truckee.
In fall, from Aug 1 – Oct 1 in Adelanto to Sept 15 – Nov 15 in Yucaipa.
USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.
| Place | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Adelanto | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Agoura Hills | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Alameda | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Albany | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Alhambra | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Aliso Viejo | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| American Canyon | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Anaheim | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Anderson | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Antioch | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Apple Valley | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Arcadia | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Arcata | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Arroyo Grande | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Artesia | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Arvin | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Atascadero | Fall-planted | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Atwater | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Auburn | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Avenal | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Azusa | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Bakersfield | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Baldwin Park | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Banning | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Barstow | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Beaumont | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Bell | — | — |
| Bell Gardens | — | — |
| Bellflower | — | — |
| Belmont | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Benicia | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Berkeley | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Beverly Hills | — | — |
| Blythe | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Brawley | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Brea | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Brentwood | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Buena Park | — | — |
| Burbank | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Burlingame | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Calabasas | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Calexico | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| California City | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Calimesa | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Camarillo | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Campbell | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Canyon Lake | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Carlsbad | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Carpinteria | — | — |
| Carson | — | — |
| Cathedral City | — | — |
| Ceres | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Cerritos | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Chico | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Chino | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Chino Hills | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Chowchilla | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Chula Vista | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Citrus Heights | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Claremont | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Clayton | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Clearlake | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Clovis | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Coachella | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Coalinga | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Colton | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Commerce | — | — |
| Compton | — | — |
| Concord | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Corcoran | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Corona | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Coronado | — | — |
| Corte Madera | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Costa Mesa | — | — |
| Covina | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Cudahy | — | — |
| Culver City | — | — |
| Cupertino | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Cypress | — | — |
| Daly City | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Dana Point | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Danville | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Davis | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Delano | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Desert Hot Springs | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Diamond Bar | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Dinuba | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Dixon | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Downey | — | — |
| Duarte | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Dublin | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| East Palo Alto | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Eastvale | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| El Cajon | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| El Centro | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| El Cerrito | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| El Monte | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles) | Fall-planted | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| El Segundo | — | — |
| Elk Grove | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Emeryville | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Encinitas | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Escondido | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Eureka | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Exeter | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Fairfield | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Farmersville | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Fillmore | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Folsom | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Fontana | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Fortuna | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Foster City | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Fountain Valley | — | — |
| Fremont | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Fresno | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Fullerton | — | — |
| Galt | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Garden Grove | — | — |
| Gardena | — | — |
| Gilroy | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Glendale | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Glendora | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Goleta | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Grand Terrace | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Grass Valley | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Greenfield | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Grover Beach | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Half Moon Bay | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Hanford | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Hawaiian Gardens | — | — |
| Hawthorne | — | — |
| Hayward | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Healdsburg | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Hemet | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Hercules | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Hermosa Beach | — | — |
| Hesperia | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Highland | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Hillsborough | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Hollister | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Huntington Beach | — | — |
| Huntington Park | — | — |
| Imperial | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Imperial Beach | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Indio | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Inglewood | — | — |
| Irvine | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Jurupa Valley | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Kerman | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| King City | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Kingsburg | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| La Cañada Flintridge | — | — |
| La Habra | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| La Mesa | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| La Mirada | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| La Palma | — | — |
| La Puente | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| La Quinta | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| La Verne | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Lafayette | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Laguna Beach | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Laguna Hills | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Laguna Niguel | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Laguna Woods | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Lake Elsinore | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Lake Forest | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Lakewood | — | — |
| Lancaster | Feb 10 – Mar 10 | Spring-planted |
| Larkspur | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Lathrop | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Lawndale | — | — |
| Lemon Grove | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Lemoore | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Lincoln | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Lindsay | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Livermore | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Livingston | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Lodi | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Loma Linda | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Lomita | — | — |
| Lompoc | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Long Beach | — | — |
| Los Alamitos | — | — |
| Los Altos | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Los Angeles | — | — |
| Los Banos | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Los Gatos | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Lynwood | — | — |
| Madera | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Malibu | — | — |
| Manhattan Beach | — | — |
| Manteca | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Marina | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Martinez | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Marysville | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Maywood | — | — |
| McFarland | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Mendota | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Menifee | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Menlo Park | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Merced | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Mill Valley | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Millbrae | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Milpitas | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Mission Viejo | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Modesto | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Monrovia | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Montclair | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Montebello | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Monterey | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Monterey Park | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Moorpark | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Moraga | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Moreno Valley | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Morgan Hill | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Morro Bay | Fall-planted | — |
| Mountain View | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Murrieta | Fall-planted | — |
| Napa | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| National City | — | — |
| Newark | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Newman | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Newport Beach | — | — |
| Norco | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Norwalk | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Novato | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Oakdale | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Oakland | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Oakley | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Oceanside | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Ontario | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Orange | — | — |
| Orinda | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Oroville | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Oxnard | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Pacific Grove | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Pacifica | — | — |
| Palm Desert | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Palm Springs | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Palmdale | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Palo Alto | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Palos Verdes Estates | — | — |
| Paramount | — | — |
| Parlier | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Pasadena | — | — |
| Patterson | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Perris | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Petaluma | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Pico Rivera | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Piedmont | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Pinole | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Pittsburg | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Placentia | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Placerville | Feb 10 – Mar 10 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Pleasant Hill | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Pleasanton | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Pomona | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Port Hueneme | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Porterville | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Poway | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Rancho Cordova | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Rancho Cucamonga | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Rancho Mirage | — | — |
| Rancho Palos Verdes | — | — |
| Rancho Santa Margarita | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Red Bluff | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Redding | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Redlands | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Redondo Beach | — | — |
| Redwood City | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Reedley | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Rialto | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Richmond | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Ridgecrest | Fall-planted | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Rio Vista | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Ripon | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Riverbank | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Riverside | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Rocklin | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Rohnert Park | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Rosemead | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Roseville | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Sacramento | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Salinas | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Anselmo | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Bernardino | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Bruno | — | — |
| San Buenaventura (Ventura) | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Carlos | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Clemente | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Diego | — | — |
| San Dimas | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Fernando | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Francisco | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Gabriel | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Jacinto | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Jose | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Juan Capistrano | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Leandro | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Luis Obispo | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Marcos | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Marino | — | — |
| San Mateo | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Pablo | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Rafael | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| San Ramon | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Sanger | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Santa Ana | — | — |
| Santa Barbara | — | — |
| Santa Clara | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Santa Clarita | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Santa Cruz | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Santa Fe Springs | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Santa Maria | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Santa Monica | — | — |
| Santa Paula | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Santa Rosa | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Santee | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Saratoga | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Scotts Valley | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Seal Beach | — | — |
| Seaside | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Selma | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Shafter | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Shasta Lake | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Sierra Madre | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Signal Hill | — | — |
| Simi Valley | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Solana Beach | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Soledad | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Sonoma | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| South El Monte | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| South Gate | — | — |
| South Lake Tahoe | May 15 – June 1 | Spring-planted |
| South Pasadena | — | — |
| South San Francisco | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Stanton | — | — |
| Stockton | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Suisun City | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Sunnyvale | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Susanville | Apr 15 – May 15 | Spring-planted |
| Tehachapi | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Temecula | Fall-planted | — |
| Temple City | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Thousand Oaks | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Torrance | — | — |
| Tracy | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Truckee | May 15 – June 1 | Spring-planted |
| Tulare | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Turlock | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Tustin | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Twentynine Palms | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Ukiah | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Union City | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Upland | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Vacaville | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Vallejo | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Victorville | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Visalia | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Vista | Fall-planted | — |
| Walnut | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Walnut Creek | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Wasco | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Watsonville | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| West Covina | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| West Hollywood | — | — |
| West Sacramento | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Westminster | — | — |
| Whittier | — | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Wildomar | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Windsor | Fall-planted | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Woodland | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
| Yorba Linda | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Yuba City | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Yucaipa | Fall-planted | Sept 15 – Nov 15Now |
| Yucca Valley | Fall-planted | Sept 1 – Nov 15Now |
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. “—” means the place's frost date is outside the table. The full USDA table for garlic.