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When to plant garlic in Zone 5a
In Zone 5a, plant cloves around October 5 – October 19 — about 1–2 weeks after the first fall frost — for harvest the following summer.
Your garlic timeline — Zone 5a
| Plant cloves (fall) | October 5 – October 19 |
|---|---|
| Zone 5a last frost | ~05/12 |
| Zone 5a first frost | ~10/01 |
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 5a'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.