Growing garlic: timing, spacing and costs by zone

When to plant

Garlic: cool-season, hardy to frost. Plant when soil reaches 45–60°F. Dates below are averages worked out from each zone's frost dates — check your own field.

• Zone 6b (Boone NC): seed July 10 – July 31; fall planting September 3 – September 24. First picking around March 14 – April 11.
• Zone 7b (Raleigh): seed June 24 – July 15; fall planting September 17 – October 8. First picking around February 26 – March 26.
• Zone 8b (Charleston SC): seed May 31 – June 21; fall planting October 11 – November 1. First picking around February 2 – March 2.
• Zone 9a (Gainesville FL): seed May 13 – June 3; fall planting October 27 – November 17. First picking around January 15 – February 12.

Setting it up

Direct-seed in the field. Space plants 6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, about 2 inch deep. Expect roughly 240 days to first harvest.

Field notes

Fall-planted only. Plant 4–6 weeks before first frost so roots establish before soil freezes. Harvest when lower 3 leaves brown.

How it fits each zone

• Zone 6b: challenging — Garlic needs a long season and this zone averages just 167 frost-free days. Start early, use black plastic, and plan for row cover on shoulder-season frosts.
• Zone 7b: excellent — Garlic is well suited to Zone 7b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
• Zone 8b: excellent — Garlic is well suited to Zone 8b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
• Zone 9a: good — Cool-season crops bolt fast under Zone 9a heat. Prioritize the fall planting window and use shade cloth for any spring succession.

Before you plant

Line up who will buy it and at what price before seed goes in the ground. See the planting calendar for your exact zone.