When to plant garlic in zone 6a
In zone 6a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 29, sow outdoors March 18 to April 1. For a fall crop, plant October 17 to 31.
The zone 6a schedule for garlic
- Sow outdoors
- March 18 to April 1
- Plant for a fall crop
- October 17 to 31
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6a, 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 6a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 16 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 11 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 4 to October 24. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 16Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 14Safe: 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 6a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Apr 11 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Oct 31 to Nov 14 |
| Indianapolis city, IN | Apr 15 | Mar 4 to 18 | Oct 26 to Nov 9 |
| Denver, CO | May 4 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Oct 8 to 22 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 3 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Oct 8 to 22 |
| Omaha, NE | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 21 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Aurora, CO | May 4 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Oct 8 to 22 |
| Lincoln, NE | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 13 to 27 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | Apr 29 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Oct 20 to Nov 3 |
| Lakewood, CO | May 5 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Oct 5 to 19 |
| Springfield, MA | May 3 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Oct 8 to 22 |
| Joliet, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 25 to Nov 8 |
How to grow garlicAll zonesGarlic in zone 5bGarlic in zone 6bAbout zone 6a
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