When to plant garlic in zone 5b
In zone 5b, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 1, sow outdoors March 20 to April 3. For a fall crop, plant October 10 to 24.
The zone 5b schedule for garlic
- Sow outdoors
- March 20 to April 3
- Plant for a fall crop
- October 10 to 24
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,546 ZIP codes in zone 5b, 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 5b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 21 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 18 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 30 to October 19. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 18Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 1Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 16Safe: 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 5b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
| Madison, WI | May 1 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Oct 10 to 24 |
| Des Moines, IA | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 21 | Oct 20 to Nov 3 |
| Aurora, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 23 to Nov 6 |
| Fort Collins, CO | May 2 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Oct 7 to 21 |
| Naperville, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 23 to Nov 6 |
| Rockford, IL | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 17 to 31 |
| Elgin, IL | Apr 26 | Mar 15 to 29 | Oct 18 to Nov 1 |
| Greeley, CO | May 2 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Oct 8 to 22 |
| Green Bay, WI | Apr 30 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 9 to 23 |
| Davenport, IA | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 22 to Nov 5 |
| Longmont, CO | May 6 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Oct 5 to 19 |
How to grow garlicAll zonesGarlic in zone 5aGarlic in zone 6aAbout zone 5b
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