When to plant garlic in Arizona
Arizona’s average last spring frost is March 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 245 frost-free days (USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10b). Garlic needs 240–270 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Arizona's growing season.
Arizona covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant garlic in Arizona: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Nov 26 – Dec 13. Seeds germinate in soil from 32 to 75°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow garlic in Arizona, step by step
- Prepare the bed. It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 12 inches deep, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: onion maggot, onion thrips, stem nematode. Diseases and disorders: white rot, rust, basal rot.
- Harvest. Garlic takes 240-270 days to reach harvest. Plant cloves 2-4 weeks after the first fall frost, pointy end up, and mulch. Hardneck types need this cold period; softneck types suit mild-winter regions and braid well. Harvest the following summer when the lower leaves brown.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Arizona’s average frost dates. More in the full garlic growing guide.
Garlic planting dates by USDA zone in Arizona
Arizona spans USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10b. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the garlic dates shift with them.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant garlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 | May 10 | Sep 25 | 135 days | - | Oct 6 – Oct 23 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 160 days | - | Oct 16 – Nov 2 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | - | Oct 26 – Nov 12 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | - | Nov 5 – Nov 22 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | - | Nov 16 – Dec 3 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | - | Dec 11 – Dec 28 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 | Dec 15 | 330 days | - | Dec 26 – Jan 12 |
When to plant garlic in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant in fall |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona (this page) | March 15 | Nov 26 – Dec 13 |
| New Mexico | April 20 | Oct 31 – Nov 17 |
Questions gardeners in Arizona ask
When is the best time to plant garlic in Arizona?
Plant garlic in Arizona between November 26 and December 13. That timing is set for fall, after Arizona's first frost (about November 15); Arizona spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When will fall-planted garlic be ready in Arizona?
The following July to August. Garlic roots in fall, rests over winter and finishes in early summer - harvest when the lower leaves turn brown.
When is the last frost in Arizona?
On average around March 15, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 245 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.