When to plant garlic in District of Columbia
District of Columbia’s average last spring frost is April 10, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 25 — about 198 frost-free days (USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a). Garlic needs 240–270 days to mature, which is tight for a full-season planting there — see the note below.
When to plant garlic in District of Columbia: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Nov 5 – Nov 22. 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 District of Columbia, 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 District of Columbia’s average frost dates. More in the full garlic growing guide.
Garlic planting dates by USDA zone in District of Columbia
District of Columbia spans USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a. 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.
When to plant garlic in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant in fall |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (this page) | April 10 | Nov 5 – Nov 22 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Oct 26 – Nov 12 |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 | Oct 21 – Nov 7 |
| Delaware | April 14 | Nov 2 – Nov 19 |
| Maryland | April 14 | Oct 31 – Nov 17 |
| Virginia | April 15 | Oct 31 – Nov 17 |
| West Virginia | May 5 | Oct 16 – Nov 2 |
Questions gardeners in District of Columbia ask
When is the best time to plant garlic in District of Columbia?
Plant garlic in District of Columbia between November 5 and November 22. That timing is set for fall, after District of Columbia's first frost (about October 25).
When will fall-planted garlic be ready in District of Columbia?
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 District of Columbia?
On average around April 10, with the first fall frost around October 25 - about 198 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.