When to Plant Garlic in California
In California, the time to plant garlic in fall runs from Jan 1 – Jan 29 in Santa Clarita to Dec 31 – Jan 28 in Chula Vista. In Los Angeles, it's Dec 26 – Jan 23. The average first fall frost differs by about 52 weeks across the state (Jan 1 in Santa Clarita, Dec 31 in Chula Vista), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Garlic is planted in fall, around the first frost, and harvested the next summer. Cloves need a cold winter to form good bulbs.
- Plant: from the first fall frost up to 4 weeks after it.
Garlic planting dates in California by city
| City | Zone | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | 10a | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| Bakersfield | 9b | Dec 8 – Jan 5 |
| Chula Vista | 10b | Dec 31 – Jan 28 |
| Corona | 10a | Dec 19 – Jan 16 |
| Elk Grove | 9b | Dec 2 – Dec 30 |
| Escondido | 10a | Dec 30 – Jan 27 |
| Fontana | 10a | Dec 30 – Jan 27 |
| Fremont | 10a | Dec 27 – Jan 24 |
| Fresno | 9b | Dec 14 – Jan 11 |
| Garden Grove | 10b | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| Glendale | 10a | Dec 26 – Jan 23 |
| Hayward | 10a | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| Huntington Beach | 10b | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| Irvine | 10a | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| Lancaster | 8a | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Long Beach | 10b | Jan 5 – Feb 2 |
| Los Angeles | 10b | Dec 26 – Jan 23 |
| Modesto | 9b | Dec 5 – Jan 2 |
| Moreno Valley | 9b | Dec 19 – Jan 16 |
| Oakland | 10a | Dec 23 – Jan 20 |
| Oceanside | 10a | Dec 11 – Jan 8 |
| Ontario | 10a | Dec 30 – Jan 27 |
| Oxnard | 10b | Dec 28 – Jan 25 |
| Palmdale | 8b | Nov 19 – Dec 17 |
| Pomona | 10a | Dec 28 – Jan 25 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 10a | Dec 30 – Jan 27 |
| Riverside | 10a | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| Roseville | 9b | Nov 24 – Dec 22 |
| Sacramento | 9b | Dec 16 – Jan 13 |
| Salinas | 9b | Dec 10 – Jan 7 |
| San Bernardino | 10a | Dec 19 – Jan 16 |
| San Diego | 10b | Dec 21 – Jan 18 |
| San Francisco | 10a | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| San Jose | 9b | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| Santa Ana | 10b | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| Santa Clarita | 10a | Jan 1 – Jan 29 |
| Santa Rosa | 9a | Dec 1 – Dec 29 |
| Stockton | 9b | Dec 8 – Jan 5 |
| Sunnyvale | 10a | Dec 23 – Jan 20 |
| Visalia | 9b | Dec 13 – Jan 10 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in California, or the general guide to when to plant garlic.
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