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When to Plant Garlic in Bath County, VA

Garlic

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.

Bath County, Virginia is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 184 days.

At an elevation of 1,005 feet, Bath County receives approximately 43.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Garlic during the growing season.

Bath County, VA (Zone 6b) Moderate season
184 days
Last Spring Frost April 21
184 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Bath County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Garlic Planting Timeline — Bath County, VA

Garlic Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Harvest December 10 Dec 10 – Mar 25
Fall Sowing September 10 Sep 10 – Sep 24

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Harvest
February Harvest
March Harvest
April
May
June
July
August
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December Harvest

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

90–240 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

184 days in Bath County

Growing Tips for Bath 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Garlic in Bath County, VA?

Bath County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 21. Plan your Garlic planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bath County, VA?

Bath County, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 21 and first fall frost is October 22.

🌱

Your Bath County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Bath County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.