When to plant garlic in Delaware
Delaware’s average last spring frost is April 14, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 22 — about 191 frost-free days (USDA zones 7a, 7b). 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 Delaware: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Nov 2 – Nov 19. 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 Delaware, 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 Delaware’s average frost dates. More in the full garlic growing guide.
When to plant garlic in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant in fall |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware (this page) | April 14 | Nov 2 – Nov 19 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Oct 26 – Nov 12 |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 | Oct 21 – Nov 7 |
| Maryland | April 14 | Oct 31 – Nov 17 |
| District of Columbia | April 10 | Nov 5 – Nov 22 |
| Virginia | April 15 | Oct 31 – Nov 17 |
| West Virginia | May 5 | Oct 16 – Nov 2 |
Questions gardeners in Delaware ask
When is the best time to plant garlic in Delaware?
Plant garlic in Delaware between November 2 and November 19. That timing is set for fall, after Delaware's first frost (about October 22).
When will fall-planted garlic be ready in Delaware?
The following June to July. 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 Delaware?
On average around April 14, with the first fall frost around October 22 - about 191 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.