When to plant garlic in California
California’s average last spring frost is February 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 1 — about 284 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 10b). Garlic needs 240–270 days to mature, which fits comfortably within California's growing season.
California 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 California: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Dec 12 – Dec 29. 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 California, 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 California’s average frost dates. More in the full garlic growing guide.
Garlic planting dates by USDA zone in California
California spans USDA zones 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 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 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 |
Questions gardeners in California ask
When is the best time to plant garlic in California?
Plant garlic in California between December 12 and December 29. That timing is set for fall, after California's first frost (about December 1); California spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When will fall-planted garlic be ready in California?
The following August to September. 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 California?
On average around February 20, with the first fall frost around December 1 - about 284 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.