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When to Plant Garlic in Tooele County, UT

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.

Tooele County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 169 days.

At an elevation of 4,309 feet, Tooele County receives approximately 12.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Garlic during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Garlic successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Tooele County, UT (Zone 6a) Moderate season
169 days
Last Spring Frost May 1
169 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Tooele County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Nov 7
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Nov 13
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Aug 17 – Nov 30

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.3″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,240 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Garlic needs ~2,764 GDD — county provides 2,830 GDD Good fit

Garlic Planting Timeline โ€” Tooele County, UT

Garlic Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Fall Sowing September 5 Sep 5 โ€“ Sep 19

Plant 1" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May โ€”
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

90โ€“240 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7.5

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

169 days

Growing Tips for Tooele County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Peas
  • Green Beans
  • Asparagus

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Garlic in Tooele County, UT?

Tooele County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 1. Plan your Garlic planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Tooele County, UT?

Tooele County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 1 and first fall frost is October 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Tooele County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Tooele County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.