When to plant garlic in zone 2a
In zone 2a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 19, sow outdoors April 7 to 21. For a fall crop, plant September 5 to 19.
The zone 2a schedule for garlic
- Sow outdoors
- April 7 to 21
- Plant for a fall crop
- September 5 to 19
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 10 ZIP codes in zone 2a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for garlic.
Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.
Frost risk in zone 2a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 2a, the typical last frost ranges from about May 13 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 25 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 1 to September 13. For a typical place in the zone:
- May 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 19Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- June 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Your dates for garlic
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant garlic where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
How to grow garlicAll zonesGarlic in zone 3aAbout zone 2a
Sources
- How to Grow Garlic in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- Growing Garlic in a Home Garden · University of Maryland Extension
- Garlic, Allium sativum · University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension (Wisconsin Horticulture)
- Growing Garlic (info sheet) · University of Illinois Extension
- Onion, Leek, Shallot, & Garlic (HGIC) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- Allium sativum (Plant Toolbox) · NC State Extension
- Rhode Island Planting Calendar for Fruits and Vegetables · University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension
- Garlic · University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension