Vegetable · Amaryllidaceae
When to plant garlic
Choose a variety sold for autumn or spring planting in your region. Many varieties benefit from a cold period to form well-divided bulbs; a frost-free calendar is not proof that every variety will bulb well.
Days to maturity (estimate)
240-270
From sowing to first harvest; cultivar and conditions matter.
Frost tolerance
Very hardy
How much cold the plant itself will take.
Choose a place for estimated dates and local climate checks.
Timing, in frost-relative terms
Garlic are anchored to the first autumn frost rather than the last spring one, so the useful offset runs backwards from the end of the season instead of forwards from its start.
- Expect 240–270 days to maturity, counted from sowing.
- Can also be sown in late summer for an autumn crop or to overwinter.
Getting the timing right
Use healthy planting stock. Separate the cloves just before planting, keep the papery skin intact and set each clove with its pointed end upward.
Frost tolerance
Check the named variety and local forecast before exposing young growth. The catalog cold-damage figure is a reference, not a guarantee: plant age, acclimatisation, wind and the duration of a freeze affect damage.
Classified as very-hardy, with a catalog cold-damage reference of -20°C (-4°F)-4°F (-20°C). Exposure duration, growth stage and acclimatisation change cold tolerance.
Before you plant garlic
Use the calendar to plan ahead, then check the conditions in your own garden.
- Frost tolerance does not make saturated or frozen soil suitable for planting. Wait until the bed can be worked without smearing or compacting it.
- Use the maturity range on your seed packet when choosing a variety. Cold, short days and transplant stress can make harvest later than the calendar estimate.
Choose garlic for your winter
Use healthy planting stock. Separate the cloves just before planting, keep the papery skin intact and set each clove with its pointed end upward.
Prioritise drainage over an exact date. Garlic in waterlogged winter soil is more likely to rot; a raised bed can help where drainage is poor.
Judge harvest from the plant and a trial bulb as well as the estimated date. Lift carefully and dry bulbs with good air circulation before storage.
Further reading: RHS garlic growing guide . General crop guidance; local dates on this site are calculated separately. Source checked 18 September 2026 by Safe to Plant; this is not an expert review.
How the dates are calculated and their limits · Keep a growing record · Report a local discrepancy