Plant garlic in the fall, early enough that the cloves grow a good root system before the ground freezes. That is Penn State’s rule, and Clemson agrees that garlic grows best from a fall planting. The only calendar dates in our sources come from UGA: late September through November in Georgia. Everywhere else you set the date yourself, from your first-freeze date. This page is part of our complete garlic growing guide.
Why garlic is a fall crop
Garlic is planted as cloves, not seed (UGA), and the clove has a job to do over winter. UGA says garlic cloves need a period of 6–8 weeks of cool weather after planting, below 40°F (4°C), to undergo vernalization. That is the chilling that readies the plant to form a bulb.
Then the calendar swings the other way. UGA says bulb growth and development are favored by long days and warm temperatures, so the bulb itself swells in the spring and early summer, after the cold has done its work. Plant in fall and both halves of the cycle line up. Add it up and UGA’s figure is that garlic requires up to 8 months to mature.
| Zones | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone Georgia (UGA): direct sow Sep–Nov; harvest May–Jul | May: harvest | June: harvest | July: harvest | September: direct sow | October: direct sow | November: direct sow |
- Direct sow
- Harvest
What our sources say, region by region
| Source | Where | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| UGA Extension | Georgia | Late September through November is the time to plant garlic. |
| Penn State Extension | Pennsylvania and the East | Set cloves early enough that a good root system develops before the ground freezes. |
| Clemson HGIC | South Carolina | Shallots and garlic both grow best from a fall planting. |
None of these is a national rule. They are regional extension advice, so do not copy Georgia’s dates into a colder state. The principle that travels is Penn State’s: roots before freeze.
How to set your own planting date
The sources do not give a number of weeks before frost, so we will not pretend they do. A workable method that stays inside what they say:
- Look up your average first fall freeze. Your state extension office publishes it.
- Plant so the cloves have time to root before that date.
- Remember the cold requirement. The cloves need 6–8 weeks below 40°F (4°C) after planting.
- Plan for the following summer. UGA’s “up to 8 months” means an October planting is harvested around June.
Can you plant garlic in spring?
Our sources recommend fall planting and do not report on spring-planted garlic, so we cannot promise what a spring crop looks like. What they do establish is the cold requirement: if your cloves do not get 6–8 weeks of cool weather after planting, they miss the step UGA describes. Anyone planting in spring should treat it as an experiment.
What to do on planting day
- Choose large outer cloves from your best bulbs, per UGA.
- Plant tips up. Cornell says the pointed end faces up.
- Depth. Penn State says 1–1.5 in. (2.5–4 cm), UGA says 1–3 in. (2.5–8 cm) and Cornell says 2–3 in. (5–8 cm).
- Spacing. UGA says 6 in. (15 cm) apart in rows 12–14 in. (30–35 cm) apart. Cornell says 4–6 in. (10–15 cm) in the row and 12–24 in. (30–60 cm) between rows.
- Soil. Full sun and a well-drained bed with organic matter (UGA); pH 6.0–6.5 is best (Penn State).
After planting
Expect a quiet winter. UGA describes the plant as extremely frost hardy, so cold weather alone is not a reason to worry. In spring, Penn State recommends one inch (2.5 cm) of water per week during dry periods through mid-June to ensure good sizing.
When the leaves start to yellow, check the clock against the calendar: Penn State says garlic is ready when 40–60 percent of the leaves have yellowed, and bulbs left too long start to split. Our garlic harvesting guide covers digging and curing, and the garlic varieties guide helps you choose between hardneck and softneck before you buy.
Shallots follow similar fall-planting logic with a spring option; see our shallot planting time guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to plant garlic in November?
Not in Georgia, where UGA puts the planting window at late September through November. Farther north the limit is the ground freezing: Penn State says cloves should be set early enough that a good root system forms before it does. Check your own first-freeze date.
Can you plant garlic in spring?
Our sources recommend fall. Clemson says garlic grows best from a fall planting and Penn State says garlic is planted in the fall. UGA says the cloves need 6–8 weeks below 40°F (4°C) after planting. None of the sources we used covers spring planting results, so we cannot say how a spring crop performs.
Will frost kill my garlic?
UGA calls the plant extremely frost hardy. The cold is useful: cloves need 6–8 weeks of cool weather after planting to undergo vernalization.
How long after planting is garlic harvested?
UGA says garlic needs up to 8 months to mature. A clove planted in October is therefore ready around the following June at the latest, and Penn State says to harvest when 40–60 percent of the leaves have yellowed.
Sources
- Garlic Production, Penn State Extension
- Garlic Production for the Gardener, University of Georgia Extension
- Onion, Leek, Shallot and Garlic, Clemson Home & Garden Information Center