When to Plant Garlic: Fall and Spring Planting by Zone
The best time to plant garlic in each USDA hardiness zone, why garlic needs cold, fall vs spring planting, and Southern Hemisphere timing.
The best time to plant garlic is autumn, about 4–6 weeks before the soil freezes, when soil temperature drops to around 10–15 °C (50–60 °F). This gives cloves time to grow roots but not much top growth before winter. Garlic needs 4–8 weeks of cold (below about 10 °C / 50 °F) to divide into cloves.
Planting Times by Zone
| USDA zone | Plant garlic | Typical harvest |
|---|---|---|
| 3–4 | mid September – early October | late July – August |
| 5 | late September – mid October | July |
| 6 | October | late June – July |
| 7 | mid October – mid November | June – early July |
| 8 | November | June |
| 9–10 | November – December (pre-chill cloves) | May – June |
In warm zones, chill cloves in the fridge for 6–8 weeks before planting if winters are too mild.
Spring Planting
If you miss autumn, plant as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring. Bulbs will be smaller, and some may form a single round clove ("round") because they did not get enough cold.
Southern Hemisphere
Plant in autumn, March to May, and harvest in late spring to summer, November to January.
More Garlic Guides
- How to Grow Garlic: The Complete Guide
- Hardneck vs softneck garlic and varieties
- How to plant garlic cloves
- Garlic scapes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it too late to plant garlic in November?
In zones 7 and warmer, no; in colder zones, plant as long as the soil is not frozen.
Can you plant garlic in spring?
Yes, but expect smaller bulbs.
When do you harvest garlic planted in October?
Usually the following June or July.
TarlaTapan guides focus on practical, field-tested growing advice. Corrections and suggestions are welcome at info@tarlatapan.tr.