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When to plant garlic in Zone 4a
In Zone 4a, plant cloves around October 1 – October 15 — about 1–2 weeks after the first fall frost — for harvest the following summer.
Your garlic timeline — Zone 4a
| Plant cloves (fall) | October 1 – October 15 |
|---|---|
| Zone 4a last frost | ~05/14 |
| Zone 4a first frost | ~09/27 |
Plant cloves in fall, usually within one to two weeks after the first killing frost, for harvest the following summer. Spring planting gives poor, small bulbs. [src]Cited: University of Illinois Extension — Herb Gardening: Garlic
Dates computed from Zone 4a's median NOAA frost normals and the cited rule. Your town may differ by a week or two — check your exact ZIP.
What you'll need
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Last verified 2026-07-17. Frost: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020. Zone: USDA 2023. Rule: University of Illinois Extension — Herb Gardening: Garlic.