Plant garlic between mid-September (Zone 3) and late November (Zones 8–9), before the ground freezes. Zones 3–6 plant from 1 week before to 4 weeks after the first fall frost; Zones 7–9 plant from mid-October to late November.
Gardeners in mild-winter parts of Zones 9 and 10, such as Tampa, Orlando, Los Angeles, and Miami, chill garlic cloves in the refrigerator for 6–8 weeks and plant them from November 1 to December 31. USDA planting zones, also called hardiness zones or growing zones, set the garlic type; the first frost date sets the planting date. Enter a ZIP code below to see the garlic planting dates for the nearest NOAA weather station.
When to Plant Garlic by USDA Zone?
Garlic planting windows run from September 15–October 20 in Zone 3 to November 1–December 31 in Zone 10. The table lists the typical first frost date and the garlic planting window for USDA planting zones 3 to 10, from NOAA 1991–2020 weather-station data for every ZIP code in each zone.
| Planting zone | Plant garlic | First frost date (typical) | Garlic type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Sep 15–Oct 20 | Sep 20 (Sep 2–Sep 26) | Hardneck |
| Zone 4 | Sep 20–Oct 25 | Sep 26 (Sep 18–Oct 3) | Hardneck |
| Zone 5 | Sep 30–Nov 1 | Oct 5 (Sep 25–Oct 14) | Hardneck |
| Zone 6 | Oct 10–Nov 10 | Oct 15 (Oct 3–Oct 24) | Hardneck |
| Zone 7 | Oct 15–Nov 20 | Oct 25 (Oct 14–Nov 11) | Hardneck or softneck |
| Zone 8 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Nov 4 (Oct 26–Nov 14) | Hardneck or softneck |
| Zone 9 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Nov 30 (Nov 13–Dec 17) | Hardneck or softneck |
| Zone 10 | Nov 1–Dec 31 (chill first) | Dec 25 (Dec 10–Jan 6); none in 1 of 3 ZIP codes | Softneck |
Dates in the same zone differ because USDA zones measure winter lows, not frost timing: the ZIP code tool above gives the exact window.
When to Plant Garlic in Zone 3?
In Zone 3, plant garlic from September 15 to October 20. The first fall frost date is Sep 20 (Sep 2–Sep 26), so cloves go in before the ground freezes. Plant hardneck garlic. More on the zone: USDA Planting Zone 3 with Map.
When to Plant Garlic in Zone 4?
In Zone 4, plant garlic from September 20 to October 25. The first fall frost date is Sep 26 (Sep 18–Oct 3). Plant hardneck garlic and cover the bed with 4 inches of straw mulch after planting. More on the zone: USDA Planting Zone 4 with Map.
When to Plant Garlic in Zone 5?
In Zone 5, plant garlic from September 30 to November 1. The first fall frost date is Oct 5 (Sep 25–Oct 14). Plant hardneck garlic. More on the zone: USDA Planting Zone 5 with Map.
When to Plant Garlic in Zone 6?
In Zone 6, plant garlic from October 10 to November 10. The first fall frost date is Oct 15 (Oct 3–Oct 24). Plant hardneck garlic. More on the zone: USDA Zone 6: Planting & Hardiness Map.
When to Plant Garlic in Zone 7?
In Zone 7, plant garlic from October 15 to November 20. The first fall frost date is Oct 25 (Oct 14–Nov 11). Plant hardneck or softneck garlic. More on the zone: USDA Zone 7: Planting & Hardiness Map.
When to Plant Garlic in Zone 8?
In Zone 8, plant garlic from October 15 to November 30. The first fall frost date is Nov 4 (Oct 26–Nov 14), so the planting window follows the calendar rather than the frost date. Plant hardneck or softneck garlic. More on the zone: USDA zone 8 Map with its 25 states.
When to Plant Garlic in Zone 9?
In Zone 9, plant garlic from October 15 to November 30. 51% of Zone 9 ZIP codes have mild winters, with 30–55 nights a year below 40°F, where chilling cloves in the refrigerator for 6–8 weeks before planting helps bulbs form. 9% of Zone 9 ZIP codes, mostly in Florida and South Texas, chill cloves and plant in November and December. Plant hardneck or softneck garlic. More on the zone: USDA Planting Zone 9 with Map.
When to Plant Garlic in Zone 10?
In Zone 10, chill garlic cloves in the refrigerator for 6–8 weeks and plant them from November 1 to December 31. 76% of Zone 10 ZIP codes have fewer than 30 nights a year below 40°F, too few for garlic to form a bulb without chilling. Plant softneck garlic. More on the zone: USDA Zone 10 with Map.
When to Plant Garlic in 33 U.S. Cities?
The table lists the first frost date, the first hard freeze, and the garlic planting window for 33 U.S. cities, from the NOAA 1991–2020 records of each city’s nearest weather station.
| City | Plant garlic | Planting zone | First frost date (32°F) | Hard freeze (28°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bemidji, MN Cass Lake, MN | Sep 15–Oct 20 | 3b | Sep 20 | Sep 30 |
| International Falls, MN International Falls International Airport, MN | Aug 31–Oct 5 | 3b | Sep 6 | Sep 20 |
| Fargo, ND Fargo 3S, ND | Sep 20–Oct 25 | 4a | Sep 28 | Oct 6 |
| Duluth, MN Duluth, MN | Sep 20–Oct 25 | 4b | Sep 26 | Oct 6 |
| Minneapolis, MN Lower St Anthony Falls, MN | Oct 5–Nov 5 | 5a | Oct 10 | Oct 21 |
| Madison, WI UW Arboretum – Madison, WI | Sep 25–Oct 31 | 5b | Oct 3 | Oct 15 |
| Des Moines, IA Des Moines International Airport, IA | Oct 5–Nov 10 | 5b | Oct 14 | Oct 25 |
| Chicago, IL Chicago Midway Airport, IL | Oct 15–Nov 25 | 6a | Oct 26 | Nov 5 |
| Denver, CO Denver Water Dept, CO | Sep 30–Nov 5 | 6a | Oct 6 | Oct 16 |
| Columbus, OH Columbus WCMH, OH | Oct 15–Nov 15 | 6b | Oct 20 | Oct 31 |
| Detroit, MI Dearborn #2, MI | Oct 15–Nov 15 | 6b | Oct 20 | Nov 1 |
| Boston, MA Jamaica Plain, MA | Oct 10–Nov 15 | 6b | Oct 16 | Oct 29 |
| Louisville, KY Louisville International Airport, KY | Oct 15–Nov 30 | 7a | Nov 2 | Nov 11 |
| St. Louis, MO Cahokia, IL | Oct 15–Nov 20 | 7a | Oct 22 | Nov 1 |
| Philadelphia, PA Pennsauken 1N, NJ | Oct 15–Nov 20 | 7b | Oct 25 | Nov 5 |
| New York City, NY New York Central Park Tower, NY | Oct 15–Nov 30 | 7b | Nov 14 | Nov 24 |
| Nashville, TN Nashville International Airport, TN | Oct 15–Nov 25 | 7b | Oct 30 | Nov 9 |
| Atlanta, GA Atlanta Fulton County Airport, GA | Oct 15–Nov 30 | 8a | Nov 1 | Nov 13 |
| Charlotte, NC Charlotte Douglas Airport, NC | Oct 15–Nov 25 | 8a | Oct 30 | Nov 8 |
| Dallas, TX Dallas Redbird Airport, TX | Oct 15–Nov 30 | 8b | Nov 16 | Dec 1 |
| Portland, OR Portland KGW-TV, OR | Oct 15–Nov 30 | 9a | Nov 22 | Dec 7 |
| Austin, TX Austin 6S, TX | Oct 15–Nov 30 | 9a | Nov 10 | Nov 23 |
| San Antonio, TX San Antonio/Seaworld, TX | Oct 15–Nov 30 (chill recommended) | 9a | Nov 29 | Dec 12 |
| Seattle, WA Seattle Sand Point Weather Service Office, WA | Oct 15–Nov 30 | 9a | Nov 15 | Dec 1 |
| Houston, TX Houston Sugarland Memorial, TX | Oct 15–Nov 30 (chill recommended) | 9b | Dec 3 | Dec 18 |
| Sacramento, CA Sacramento Executive Airport, CA | Oct 15–Nov 30 (chill recommended) | 9b | Nov 26 | Dec 8 |
| Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville, FL | Oct 15–Nov 30 (chill recommended) | 9b | Nov 29 | Dec 13 |
| Tampa, FL Plant City, FL | Nov 1–Dec 31 (chill first) | 9b | Dec 28 | Jan 2 |
| Phoenix, AZ South Phoenix, AZ | Oct 15–Nov 30 (chill recommended) | 10a | Dec 8 | Dec 19 |
| Orlando, FL Orlando Executive Airport, FL | Nov 1–Dec 31 (chill first) | 10a | Jan 3 | None |
| Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Downtown USC Campus, CA | Nov 1–Dec 31 (chill first) | 10b | None (frost-free) | None |
| San Diego, CA San Diego Brown Field, CA | Nov 1–Dec 31 (chill first) | 10b | Dec 22 | None |
| Miami, FL Miami Kendall Tamiami Executive Airport, FL | Nov 1–Dec 31 (chill first) | 10b | None (frost-free) | None |
“Chill first” marks cities with fewer than 30 nights a year below 40°F: chill garlic cloves in the refrigerator for 6–8 weeks before planting. “Chill recommended” marks cities with 30–55 nights a year below 40°F, where the same chilling improves bulbing. In 7 of 10 years, the first frost comes after the date shown.
How to Find the Garlic Planting Date for a ZIP Code?
To find the garlic planting date for a ZIP code, use the tool at the top of this page in 3 steps:
- Enter the 5-digit ZIP code and select Show planting dates.
- Read the planting window: the first line gives the dates in words, the second line gives exact dates, the planting zone, and the garlic type.
- Open How this date was calculated to see the first fall frost date, the nearest weather station, and its distance.
How Are Garlic Planting Dates Calculated?
Garlic planting dates on this page come from NOAA 1991–2020 weather-station records. For each ZIP code, the tool takes the nearest weather station’s first fall frost date (32°F; in 7 of 10 years the first frost comes later) and applies a planting rule built from university extension guidance: plant garlic cloves from 1 week before to 4 weeks after that frost, before the ground freezes, and no earlier than October 15 or later than November 30. The same frost dates appear on the site’s First and Last Frost Dates by ZipCode page.
| Where you garden | Garlic planting rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cold-winter areas (Zones 3–6) | Plant cloves from 1 week before to 4 weeks after the first fall frost, before the ground freezes. | University of Minnesota Extension, Penn State Extension, Cornell Cooperative Extension |
| Zones 7–9 with a fall frost | Plant cloves from mid-October to late November, before the ground cools off for winter. | University of Georgia Extension, UC Master Gardeners, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension |
| Mild-winter areas (30–55 nights below 40°F) | Plant cloves from mid-October to late November; chill cloves in the refrigerator for 6–8 weeks before planting. | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension |
| Mild-winter areas (fewer than 30 nights below 40°F) | Chill cloves in the refrigerator for 6–8 weeks, then plant cloves from November 1 to December 31. | UF/IFAS Extension |
| Mountain areas with frost in every month | Plant cloves 3–4 weeks before the ground freezes. | Penn State Extension, Cornell Cooperative Extension |
Why Is Garlic Planted in Fall?
Garlic is planted in fall because the cloves require winter cold (vernalization) to divide into a full bulb, and fall planting gives the plant time to grow leaves before bulbing starts. The University of Georgia Extension states that garlic is planted in fall to permit full leaf development.
How Many Weeks of Cold Does Garlic Need?
Garlic requires 6–8 weeks of temperatures below 40°F, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. After that cold period, bulbs start to form when days grow longer than 13 hours and the soil warms above 60°F.
Can Garlic Be Planted in Spring?
Garlic can be planted in early spring, but the spring season is too short for good yields, according to the University of Georgia Extension. In Georgia, the University of Georgia Extension gives February or early March as the latest planting time.
Which Garlic Type to Plant in Each Zone?
Plant hardneck garlic in Zones 3–6, hardneck or softneck garlic in Zones 7–9, and softneck garlic where cloves are chilled first. The table matches the 2 garlic types to the USDA planting zones where each grows best.
| Garlic type | Best planting zones | Winter requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Hardneck (for cold climates, per Cornell Cooperative Extension) | Zones 3–6 | A long, cold winter |
| Softneck (for mild winters) | Zones 7–10 (softneck only where cloves are chilled first) | Mild winters; chilling where nights below 40°F are few |
Softneck garlic for mild winters includes Creole and Artichoke types, recommended by UF/IFAS Extension for Florida, and California Early, which performed well in University of Georgia trials.
How Deep and How Far Apart to Plant Garlic Cloves?
Plant garlic cloves 1–2 inches deep and 4–6 inches apart, pointed end up, according to UC Master Gardeners. Planting takes 4 steps:
- Choose the largest cloves, which grow the largest bulbs (UC Master Gardeners).
- Set each clove pointed end up, 1–2 inches deep; in cold zones, plant at least 2 inches deep (Penn State Extension).
- Space cloves 4–6 inches apart (UC Master Gardeners); Penn State Extension allows up to 8 inches.
- Cover the bed with 4 inches of straw or shredded leaves in cold zones (Penn State Extension).
When Is Fall-Planted Garlic Harvested?
Fall-planted garlic is harvested from late June to late July, according to the University of Minnesota Extension, or 150–200 days after planting, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Harvest when about half of the leaves have dried and bent toward the ground (UF/IFAS Extension).
To recap: when to plant garlic depends on the first frost date for your ZIP code and your USDA planting zone. Plant cloves from 1 week before to 4 weeks after the first fall frost in Zones 3–6, from mid-October to late November in Zones 7–9, and after 6–8 weeks of chilling where winter has fewer than 30 nights below 40°F. Tulip bulbs follow the same fall calendar: see When to Plant Tulip Bulbs and the other crops on When to Plant.