When to plant garlic in zone 7a
In zone 7a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 16, sow outdoors March 5 to 19. For a fall crop, plant October 25 to November 8.
The zone 7a schedule for garlic
- Sow outdoors
- March 5 to 19
- Plant for a fall crop
- October 25 to November 8
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 3,981 ZIP codes in zone 7a, 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 7a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 7a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 5 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 29 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 15 to November 2. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 1Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 16Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 3Safe: 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 7a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | Mar 31 | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Nov 7 to 21 |
| Wichita, KS | Apr 11 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
| Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Apr 13 | Mar 2 to 16 | Oct 28 to Nov 11 |
| St. Louis, MO | Apr 8 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Oct 26 to Nov 9 |
| Amarillo, TX | Apr 13 | Mar 2 to 16 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Providence, RI | Apr 11 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Oct 30 to Nov 13 |
| Paterson, NJ | Apr 3 | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Nov 4 to 18 |
| Bridgeport, CT | Apr 5 | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Nov 6 to 20 |
| Meridian, ID | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Stamford, CT | Apr 12 | Mar 1 to 15 | Oct 31 to Nov 14 |
| New Haven, CT | Apr 5 | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Nov 6 to 20 |
| Allentown, PA | Apr 20 | Mar 9 to 23 | Oct 24 to Nov 7 |
How to grow garlicAll zonesGarlic in zone 6bGarlic in zone 7bAbout zone 7a
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