Garlic is planted in fall, in the weeks around your first frost, and harvested the following summer. The colder your zone, the earlier you plant. Find your zone below, or enter your ZIP code for dates based on the weather station closest to you.
Garlic dates for your ZIP code
Planting times based on university extension guidance (UNH, Cornell, Purdue, Minnesota, Nebraska and UMass Extension). Frost dates from NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest weather station. Zones derived from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map data (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). This is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Garlic planting dates by zone
| USDA zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 3 | September 12 – October 3 |
| Zone 4 | September 18 – October 9 |
| Zone 5 | September 25 – October 16 |
| Zone 6 | October 6 – October 27 |
| Zone 7 | October 16 – November 6 |
| Zone 8 | October 28 – November 18 |
| Zone 9 | November 18 – December 9 |
Not sure of your zone? Look it up by 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.
How to plant garlic
- Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Work in compost before planting.
- 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.
- 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.
- Water if the soil is dry.
- Mulch with weed-free straw or shredded leaves. It evens out winter temperature swings and keeps weeds down.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Can I plant garlic in spring?
You can, as soon as the soil can be worked, but the bulbs will be smaller. Garlic forms its best bulbs after a winter in the ground, so fall planting is worth the wait.
How deep should garlic be planted?
Plant cloves 2–3 inches deep, pointed end up.
Should I remove garlic scapes?
Yes. Cutting scapes when they start to curl sends more energy to the bulb. The scapes are tender and good to eat.
Sources. Planting dates use the median frost dates of each USDA zone, calculated from NOAA climate data for every ZIP code in the zone.