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When to plant garlic in zone 3a

In zone 3a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 26, sow outdoors April 14 to 28. For a fall crop, plant September 14 to 28.

The zone 3a schedule for garlic

Sow outdoors
April 14 to 28
Plant for a fall crop
September 14 to 28

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 8 ZIP codes in zone 3a, 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 3a

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 3a, the typical last frost ranges from about May 10 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to June 2 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 12 to October 1. For a typical place in the zone:

  • May 10Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 26Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • June 11Safe: 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.

Enter your ZIP code

How to grow garlicAll zonesGarlic in zone 2aGarlic in zone 3bAbout zone 3a

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