Planting guide · zone 9a
When to plant garlic in zone 9a
In zone 9a, the average last spring frost is Feb 28 and the first fall frost is Dec 1. Here is garlic's whole year, counted from those dates.
Dec 1Plant clovesFall
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
Fertile, well-drained soil with compost worked in. Waterlogged winter beds rot the cloves.
Seedling care
No seedlings — plant individual cloves, pointy end up, right at first frost. Biggest cloves grow the biggest bulbs.
Growing notes
Mulch 4–6 in with straw or leaves after planting. Rows 10 in. Hardneck types send up scapes in spring — snap them off and eat them.
Harvest
Next June–July, when the bottom 3–4 leaves brown. Cure whole plants in a shaded, airy spot for 2 weeks.