When to plant garlic in Florida
Florida’s average last spring frost is February 12, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 10 — about 301 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a). Garlic needs 240–270 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Florida's growing season.
Florida 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 Florida: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Dec 21 – Jan 7. 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 Florida, 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 Florida’s average frost dates. More in the full garlic growing guide.
Garlic planting dates by USDA zone in Florida
Florida spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (this page) | February 12 | Dec 21 – Jan 7 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Nov 16 – Dec 3 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Nov 16 – Dec 3 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Nov 26 – Dec 13 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Nov 12 – Nov 29 |
Questions gardeners in Florida ask
When is the best time to plant garlic in Florida?
Plant garlic in Florida between December 21 and January 7. That timing is set for fall, after Florida's first frost (about December 10); Florida spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When will fall-planted garlic be ready in Florida?
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 Florida?
On average around February 12, with the first fall frost around December 10 - about 301 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.