Garlic in Zone 5a & 5b
Allium sativum
Yes, garlic grows in zones 5a and 5b. Plant it outside in Oct. For a fall crop, plant out in Oct.
When to plant garlic in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Oct |
| Estimated harvest | ~240 days after direct-sowing |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Zone 5b dates sourced from extension.psu.edu.
Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists garlic for late-summer planting.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of garlic in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- TulipOct
Garlic breaks the usual planting pattern entirely: it goes in the ground in fall, sits through winter, and isn't harvested until the following summer, around eight months later. It's the most patience-testing crop in a home garden, and also one of the most hands-off once it's in the ground.
How garlic fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Garlic goes in during the fall and grows through the winter, so it isn't limited by this window: expect first harvest about 240 days after planting.
Garlic planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3bFall window | Not usually | Oct | ~240 days after direct-sowing |
| 4a & 4bFall window | Not usually | Oct | ~240 days after direct-sowing |
| 5a & 5bFall window (your zone) | Not usually | Oct | ~240 days after direct-sowing |
| 6a & 6bFall window | Not usually | Oct | ~240 days after direct-sowing |
| 7a & 7bFall window | Not usually | Oct–Nov | ~240 days after direct-sowing |
| 8a & 8bFall window | Not usually | Oct–Nov | ~240 days after direct-sowing |
| 9a & 9bFall window | Not usually | Oct–Dec | ~240 days after direct-sowing |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Not usually | Oct–Nov | ~240 days after direct-sowing |
Harvest dates are about 240 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
- Tomato: Garlic's sulfur compounds may deter spider mites on tomatoes.
Where to buy garlic seeds
High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's garlic seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- 'Music' (Porcelain hardneck): University of Alaska Cooperative Extension lists Music among the Porcelain-subtype hardnecks it rates "highly recommended" for cold climates, noting the group is "very vigorous in cold climates" once established. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- 'Chesnok Red' (Purple Stripe hardneck) (best for cooking, poor soil): Renee's Garden describes tightly wrapped heads of 6-10 easy-to-peel cranberry-tinted cloves, tolerant of poor soil and rich, buttery when cooked. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- 'Inchelium Red' (Artichoke softneck) (best for storage, mild climates): Hudson Valley Seed lists 4-12 cloves per bulb and 6-9 months of storage, milder and mellower than any hardneck here once cured, with the reliably long shelf life softneck types are chosen for. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing garlic" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Garlic in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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