When to plant garlic in zone 6b
In zone 6b, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 23, sow outdoors March 12 to 26. For a fall crop, plant October 22 to November 5.
The zone 6b schedule for garlic
- Sow outdoors
- March 12 to 26
- Plant for a fall crop
- October 22 to November 5
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6b, 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 6b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 10 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 6 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 9 to October 29. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 23Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 9Safe: 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 6b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 21 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Boston, MA | Apr 4 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Nov 9 to 23 |
| Detroit, MI | Apr 21 | Mar 10 to 24 | Oct 31 to Nov 14 |
| Kansas City, MO | Apr 4 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Nov 2 to 16 |
| Cleveland, OH | Apr 8 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Nov 12 to 26 |
| Cincinnati, OH | Apr 16 | Mar 5 to 19 | Oct 25 to Nov 8 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Buffalo, NY | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 26 to Nov 9 |
| Toledo, OH | Apr 20 | Mar 9 to 23 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Boise City, ID | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Spokane, WA | Apr 26 | Mar 15 to 29 | Oct 15 to 29 |
| Rochester, NY | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 25 to Nov 8 |
How to grow garlicAll zonesGarlic in zone 6aGarlic in zone 7aAbout zone 6b
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