When to Plant Garlic in Zone 9

Garlic timing in zone 9

Most of zone 9 sees its first fall frost between November 15 and December 5, with a typical date of November 25. If your first frost comes earlier, plant toward the start of the window; if it comes later, plant toward the end. The tool above uses the weather station closest to your ZIP code.

Why garlic is planted in fall

Garlic needs a period of cold to form full bulbs. Planted in fall, cloves grow roots before winter and stay dormant until spring. Then they start growing early and have a long season to bulk up before harvest. Garlic planted in spring often forms small bulbs or single rounds without cloves.

Best garlic varieties for zone 9

In zone 9, softneck garlic is usually the easier choice. It is better suited to warmer climates, yields more cloves per bulb and stores for 6–8 months.

• Softneck garlic: look for varieties sold for mild-winter or southern gardens.
• Hardneck garlic is harder to grow in warm areas, but Chesnok Red and German Extra Hardy are good options for southern gardens. In zone 9, avoid very cold-adapted hardnecks such as Montana Zemo and German White.
• Elephant garlic is a close relative of leeks. It grows huge, mild-flavored bulbs and does well in warm gardens.

Buy seed garlic from a garden supplier rather than the grocery store, and choose varieties described as suited to your region.

How to plant garlic

1. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Work in compost before planting.
2. Break the bulbs into cloves a day or two before planting. Keep the papery skins on, and plant the largest cloves: they grow the largest bulbs.
3. Plant pointed end up, 2–3 inches deep and 6 inches apart, in rows 12–18 inches apart or in double rows on raised beds.
4. Water if the soil is dry.
5. Mulch with weed-free straw or shredded leaves. It evens out winter temperature swings and keeps weeds down.

Zone 9 garlic tips

• Plant once the soil cools. Garlic needs a cool period to form good bulbs, so fall planting matters even in mild-winter areas.
• Choose well-drained soil. Pick a spot with at least six hours of sun and a pH between 6 and 7. Raised beds help where winters are rainy.
• Water during bulbing. In warm areas bulbs form in spring. Keep the soil evenly moist then, and stop watering about two weeks before harvest.
• Harvest before summer heat. Dig when the older leaves start to die back but about half the leaves are still green, usually in June.

Harvesting and curing garlic

Loosen the soil with a garden fork and lift the bulbs with their leaves and roots attached. Brush off loose soil, but don’t wash them. Hang the plants in bunches or lay them on screens in a dry, shaded, airy place until the skins are papery. Then trim the roots and cut the stems about an inch above the bulb. Save your largest bulbs to plant next fall.

Garlic planting dates in nearby zones

• Zone 8October 28 – November 18

See dates for every zone on the garlic planting guide, or build a full schedule with the planting calendar.