When to Plant Garlic in Florida
In Florida, the time to plant garlic in fall runs from Jan 5 – Feb 2 in Jacksonville to Dec 29 – Jan 26 in Apopka. In Jacksonville, it's Jan 5 – Feb 2. The average first fall frost differs by about 51 weeks across the state (Jan 5 in Jacksonville, Dec 29 in Apopka), 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 Florida by city
| City | Zone | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|
| Altamonte Springs | 10a | Jan 13 – Feb 10 |
| Apopka | 9b | Dec 29 – Jan 26 |
| Bonita Springs | 10b | Jan 16 – Feb 13 |
| Boynton Beach | 10b | Jan 17 – Feb 14 |
| Bradenton | 10a | Jan 11 – Feb 8 |
| Cape Coral | 10b | Jan 13 – Feb 10 |
| Clearwater | 10a | Jan 14 – Feb 11 |
| Clermont | 9b | Jan 11 – Feb 8 |
| Cutler Bay | 11a | Jan 13 – Feb 10 |
| Daytona Beach | 9b | Jan 8 – Feb 5 |
| Delray Beach | 11a | Jan 17 – Feb 14 |
| Deltona | 9b | Jan 12 – Feb 9 |
| Fort Myers | 10b | Jan 13 – Feb 10 |
| Fort Pierce | 10a | Jan 12 – Feb 9 |
| Gainesville | 9a | Dec 2 – Dec 30 |
| Jacksonville | 9b | Jan 5 – Feb 2 |
| Jupiter | 10b | Jan 16 – Feb 13 |
| Kissimmee | 10a | Jan 6 – Feb 3 |
| Lakeland | 9b | Jan 9 – Feb 6 |
| Largo | 10a | Jan 14 – Feb 11 |
| Melbourne | 10a | Jan 9 – Feb 6 |
| North Port | 10a | Jan 6 – Feb 3 |
| Ocala | 9a | Dec 12 – Jan 9 |
| Ocoee | 10a | Jan 9 – Feb 6 |
| Orlando | 10a | Jan 10 – Feb 7 |
| Palm Bay | 10a | Jan 11 – Feb 8 |
| Palm Beach Gardens | 10b | Jan 15 – Feb 12 |
| Palm Coast | 9b | Jan 11 – Feb 8 |
| Pensacola | 9a | Dec 9 – Jan 6 |
| Pinellas Park | 10a | Jan 14 – Feb 11 |
| Port Orange | 10a | Jan 8 – Feb 5 |
| Sanford | 9b | Jan 12 – Feb 9 |
| Sarasota | 10a | Jan 10 – Feb 7 |
| St. Cloud | 10a | Jan 6 – Feb 3 |
| St. Petersburg | 10b | Jan 15 – Feb 12 |
| Tallahassee | 9a | Nov 21 – Dec 19 |
| Tampa | 10a | Jan 12 – Feb 9 |
| Titusville | 10a | Jan 13 – Feb 10 |
| Winter Garden | 9b | Jan 9 – Feb 6 |
| Winter Haven | 10a | Jan 10 – Feb 7 |
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.
Parts of Florida rarely see frost (for example Miami, Port St. Lucie, Hialeah). There, planting is timed by heat rather than frost, usually in the cooler months; look up your ZIP code for details.
See all frost dates in Florida, or the general guide to when to plant garlic.
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