When to plant garlic
Garlic tolerates frost, so plant cloves from the first fall frost to about 4 weeks after it. Plant when the soil is at least 40°F.
Garlic dates for Columbus, Ohio (example)
Example dates. Enter your ZIP above for your own.
| Plant cloves (fall) | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 40°F or warmer |
| Days to harvest | 240–270 |
| Spacing | 6 in apart, 2 in deep |
Your garlic year
- Plant cloves (fall)
Average last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 24.
Growing tips for garlic
- Garlic is planted in fall and harvested the next summer; cloves need a cold spell to form bulbs.
- Aim to plant after the first fall frost but a few weeks before the ground freezes hard.
- Mulch with 4–6 in of straw after the soil cools in cold-winter areas.
When to plant garlic in major cities
Calculated from each city's NOAA 1991–2020 average frost dates.
| City | Zone | Plant cloves |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 7b | Nov 20 – Dec 18 |
| Chicago, IL | 6b | Nov 5 – Dec 3 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 10b | Dec 15 – Jan 12 |
| Houston, TX | 9b | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 10a | Jan 3–31 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 7b | Nov 17 – Dec 15 |
| Dallas, TX | 8b | Nov 29 – Dec 27 |
| Atlanta, GA | 8a | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| Seattle, WA | 9a | Nov 17 – Dec 15 |
| Denver, CO | 6a | Oct 12 – Nov 9 |
| Boston, MA | 7a | Nov 9 – Dec 7 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 5a | Oct 16 – Nov 13 |
| Kansas City, MO | 6b | Nov 2–30 |
| Nashville, TN | 7b | Oct 31 – Nov 28 |
| Portland, OR | 9a | Dec 1–29 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 7b | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| Columbus, OH | 6b | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Charlotte, NC | 8a | Nov 3 – Dec 1 |
| Detroit, MI | 6b | Oct 31 – Nov 28 |
| Raleigh, NC | 8a | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
Garlic planting FAQ
When should I plant garlic?
Garlic tolerates frost, so plant cloves from the first fall frost to about 4 weeks after it. Plant when the soil is at least 40°F.
How many days until garlic is ready to harvest?
Most garlic varieties take about 240–270 days from planting. Check the seed packet: early varieties are at the low end.
Can garlic survive frost?
Yes. Garlic tolerates frost and light freezes, which is why it is planted in fall and overwinters in the ground.
How far apart should I plant garlic?
Space garlic 6 in apart, 2 in deep.
What is the last date I can plant garlic?
Count the variety's days to maturity back from your first fall frost, allowing a week or two extra because garlic tolerates light frost. Enter your ZIP code on this page and Seasonwise calculates the date for you.
Ask about growing garlic
Enter your ZIP above first and answers will use your local frost dates. Written by an AI model; double-check anything important.