When to plant garlic in zone 8a
In zone 8a, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 29, sow outdoors February 15 to March 1. For a fall crop, plant November 7 to 21.
The zone 8a schedule for garlic
- Sow outdoors
- February 15 to March 1
- Plant for a fall crop
- November 7 to 21
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,584 ZIP codes in zone 8a, 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 8a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 8a, the typical last frost ranges from about March 18 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 7 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 31 to November 16. For a typical place in the zone:
- March 9Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- March 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- April 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 8a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | Mar 30 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Nov 3 to 17 |
| Memphis, TN | Mar 16 | Feb 2 to 16 | Nov 16 to 30 |
| Baltimore, MD | Mar 24 | Feb 10 to 24 | Nov 21 to Dec 5 |
| Atlanta, GA | Mar 15 | Feb 1 to 15 | Nov 20 to Dec 4 |
| Raleigh, NC | Mar 28 | Feb 14 to 28 | Nov 8 to 22 |
| Greensboro, NC | Mar 30 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Nov 5 to 19 |
| Durham, NC | Mar 31 | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Nov 4 to 18 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | Mar 30 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Nov 5 to 19 |
| Chesapeake, VA | Mar 17 | Feb 3 to 17 | Nov 23 to Dec 7 |
| Huntsville, AL | Mar 24 | Feb 10 to 24 | Nov 8 to 22 |
| Fayetteville, NC | Mar 30 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Nov 10 to 24 |
| Little Rock, AR | Mar 21 | Feb 7 to 21 | Nov 10 to 24 |
How to grow garlicAll zonesGarlic in zone 7bGarlic in zone 8bAbout zone 8a
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