When to Plant Garlic in Indiana
In Indiana, the time to plant garlic in fall runs from Oct 16 – Nov 13 in Crown Point to Nov 10 – Dec 8 in Evansville. In Indianapolis city, it's Oct 21 – Nov 18. The average first fall frost differs by about 4 weeks across the state (Oct 16 in Crown Point, Nov 10 in Evansville), 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 Indiana by city
| City | Zone | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson | 6a | Oct 23 – Nov 20 |
| Bloomington | 6b | Oct 26 – Nov 23 |
| Brownsburg | 6a | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Carmel | 6a | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Columbus | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Crown Point | 5b | Oct 16 – Nov 13 |
| East Chicago | 6a | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
| Elkhart | 6a | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Evansville | 7a | Nov 10 – Dec 8 |
| Fishers | 6a | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Fort Wayne | 6a | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Franklin | 6b | Oct 19 – Nov 16 |
| Gary | 6a | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Goshen | 6a | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Greenfield | 6a | Oct 22 – Nov 19 |
| Greenwood | 6a | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Hammond | 6a | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
| Hobart | 6a | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Indianapolis city | 6b | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Jeffersonville | 7a | Nov 9 – Dec 7 |
| Kokomo | 6a | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Lafayette | 6a | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Lawrence | 6a | Oct 26 – Nov 23 |
| Marion | 6a | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
| Merrillville | 6a | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Michigan City | 6a | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Mishawaka | 6a | Oct 23 – Nov 20 |
| Muncie | 6a | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| New Albany | 7a | Nov 9 – Dec 7 |
| Noblesville | 6a | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Plainfield | 6a | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Portage | 6a | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Richmond | 6a | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
| Schererville | 6a | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
| South Bend | 6a | Oct 23 – Nov 20 |
| Terre Haute | 6a | Oct 19 – Nov 16 |
| Valparaiso | 6a | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| West Lafayette | 6a | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Westfield | 6a | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Zionsville | 6a | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
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 Indiana, or the general guide to when to plant garlic.
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