Garlic Planting Guide
Growing garlic in April
This page is about garlic in general. For your zone's exact planting and harvest dates, pick your county below.
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How to water garlic
About an inch of water a week keeps garlic happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
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Where to put garlic
garlic wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
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Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant garlic. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.
Garlic is a pungent allium planted in fall and harvested the following summer. Hardneck varieties produce edible flower stalks (scapes) and are more cold-hardy.
Allium sativum · Vegetable · Amaryllidaceae family · 90–240 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Garlic Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Garlic?
Garlic Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Garlic planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 3b | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 4a | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 4b | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 5a | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 5b | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 6a | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 6b | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 7a | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 7b | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 8a | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 8b | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 9a | — | — | — | — |
| Zone 9b | — | — | — | — |
Why are some columns showing "—"?
Start Indoors shows "—" because Garlic is typically direct sown outdoors rather than started indoors. It germinates quickly and doesn't transplant well.
Transplant shows "—" because Garlic is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.
Direct Sow shows "—" because Garlic benefits from being started indoors first, then transplanted after the last frost.
How to Plant Garlic
🍂 Fall planting: Sow 6 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
0.5"/week
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 7.5
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 3a – 9b
📅 Days to Maturity
90–240 days
Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.
👪 Plant Family
Amaryllidaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Amaryllidaceae family crops grew last year.
How Much Garlic to Grow
Garlic takes 90–240 days to mature. In most zones you'll get one harvest per season, so plant enough to last.
Companion Planting for Garlic
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Garlic
Plant individual cloves pointed end up in fall, 6 weeks before ground freezes. Mulch heavily with straw. Harvest when lower leaves begin to brown but 5-6 green leaves remain.
💧 Watering: Garlic needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.
Saving Garlic Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Garlic by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Garlic?
Garlic (Allium sativum) takes 90 to 240 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Garlic grow in?
Garlic can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 9b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Garlic need?
Growing Garlic requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.