When to plant garlic in zone 5a
In zone 5a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 3, sow outdoors March 22 to April 5. For a fall crop, plant October 4 to 18.
The zone 5a schedule for garlic
- Sow outdoors
- March 22 to April 5
- Plant for a fall crop
- October 4 to 18
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,200 ZIP codes in zone 5a, 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 5a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 27 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 21 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 25 to October 13. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 20Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 3Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 17Safe: 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.
Garlic in zone 5a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Mar 12 to 26 | Oct 16 to 30 |
| St. Paul, MN | Apr 23 | Mar 12 to 26 | Oct 16 to 30 |
| Anchorage, AK | May 5 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Oct 1 to 15 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | May 1 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | Apr 28 | Mar 17 to 31 | Oct 12 to 26 |
| Billings, MT | May 10 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Oct 1 to 15 |
| Bloomington, MN | Apr 23 | Mar 12 to 26 | Oct 14 to 28 |
| Sioux City, IA | Apr 29 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Oct 5 to 19 |
| Brooklyn Park, MN | Apr 30 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 8 to 22 |
| Woodbury, MN | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 16 to 30 |
| Plymouth, MN | Apr 29 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Oct 12 to 26 |
| Blaine, MN | Apr 30 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 8 to 22 |
How to grow garlicAll zonesGarlic in zone 4bGarlic in zone 5bAbout zone 5a
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