When to plant garlic
Short answer
Plant garlic about 3 weeks before your first fall frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Oct 4. Enter your ZIP for your exact dates.
| Climate zone | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | Nov 29 | Jul 27 (next yr) |
| Zone 2 | — | Nov 14 | Jul 12 (next yr) |
| Zone 3 | — | Nov 4 | Jul 2 (next yr) |
| Zone 4 | — | Oct 20 | Jun 17 (next yr) |
| Zone 5 | — | Oct 4 | Jun 1 (next yr) |
| Zone 6 | — | Sep 19 | May 17 (next yr) |
| Zone 7 | — | Sep 4 | May 2 (next yr) |
| Zone 8 | — | Aug 15 | Apr 12 (next yr) |
Higher climate-zone numbers are colder, so planting shifts later. Garlic is a hardy crop. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your exact zone and dates.
Your exact dates
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Frequently asked questions
When should I plant garlic?
Plant garlic about 3 weeks before your first fall frost. In a warmer zone 4 that's around Oct 20; in a colder zone 6, Sep 19.
How is garlic planted?
Garlic is planted directly in fall — as bulbs or cloves — not started indoors.
How long until garlic is ready to harvest?
About 240 days from planting until first harvest, the following year. In zone 6, garlic planted around Sep 19 is typically ready near May 17 (next yr).