When to plant garlic in Washington
Washington’s average last spring frost is April 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 15 — about 178 frost-free days (USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a). Garlic needs 240–270 days to mature, which is tight for a full-season planting there — see the note below.
Washington 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 Washington: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Oct 26 – Nov 12. 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 Washington, 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 Washington’s average frost dates. More in the full garlic growing guide.
Garlic planting dates by USDA zone in Washington
Washington spans USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. 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 |
When to plant garlic in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant in fall |
|---|---|---|
| Washington (this page) | April 20 | Oct 26 – Nov 12 |
| Oregon | April 20 | Oct 29 – Nov 15 |
Questions gardeners in Washington ask
When is the best time to plant garlic in Washington?
Plant garlic in Washington between October 26 and November 12. That timing is set for fall, after Washington's first frost (about October 15); Washington spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When will fall-planted garlic be ready in Washington?
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 Washington?
On average around April 20, with the first fall frost around October 15 - about 178 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.