When to plant Garlic

The planting dates depend on your average frost dates. Enter a ZIP code to get yours, or read the USDA table below.

Earliest safe spring planting dates: garlic
Average last freezePlant
Jan 30Generally fall-planted
Feb 8Generally fall-planted
Feb 18Generally fall-planted
Feb 28Generally fall-planted
Mar 10Generally fall-planted
Mar 20Feb 1 – Mar 1
Mar 30Feb 10 – Mar 10
Apr 10Feb 20 – Mar 20
Apr 20Mar 10 – Apr 1
Apr 30Mar 15 – Apr 15
May 10Apr 1 – May 1
May 20Apr 15 – May 15
May 30May 1 – 30
June 10May 15 – June 1
Latest safe fall planting dates: garlic
Average first freezePlant by
Aug 30Generally spring-planted
Sept 10Generally spring-planted
Sept 20Generally spring-planted
Sept 30Generally spring-planted
Oct 10Generally spring-planted
Oct 20Generally spring-planted
Oct 30Generally spring-planted
Nov 10Aug 1 – Oct 1
Nov 20Aug 15 – Oct 1
Nov 30Sept 1 – Nov 15
Dec 10Sept 15 – Nov 15
Dec 20Sept 15 – Nov 15

Source: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5. The bulletin scan.

Garlic by state