When to Plant Garlic in Kentucky
In Kentucky, the time to plant garlic in fall runs from Oct 10 – Nov 7 in Shelbyville to Nov 7 – Dec 5 in Shively. In Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, it's Nov 1 – Nov 29. The average first fall frost differs by about 4 weeks across the state (Oct 10 in Shelbyville, Nov 7 in Shively), 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 Kentucky by city
| City | Zone | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Ashland | 7a | Oct 23 – Nov 20 |
| Bardstown | 7a | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Berea | 7a | Nov 2 – Nov 30 |
| Bowling Green | 7a | Oct 31 – Nov 28 |
| Campbellsville | 7a | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Covington | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Danville | 7a | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Elizabethtown | 7a | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Erlanger | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Florence | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Fort Thomas | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Frankfort | 6b | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Georgetown | 6b | Oct 23 – Nov 20 |
| Glasgow | 7a | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Henderson | 7a | Oct 26 – Nov 23 |
| Hopkinsville | 7a | Nov 2 – Nov 30 |
| Independence | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Jeffersontown | 7a | Nov 3 – Dec 1 |
| La Grange | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Lawrenceburg | 6b | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Lexington-Fayette | 7a | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | 7a | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Lyndon | 7a | Nov 3 – Dec 1 |
| Madisonville | 7a | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Mount Washington | 7a | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Murray | 7b | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Newport | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Nicholasville | 7a | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Owensboro | 7a | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Paducah | 7a | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Radcliff | 7a | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Richmond | 7a | Oct 22 – Nov 19 |
| Shelbyville | 6b | Oct 10 – Nov 7 |
| Shepherdsville | 7a | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Shively | 7a | Nov 7 – Dec 5 |
| Somerset | 7a | Oct 30 – Nov 27 |
| St. Matthews | 7a | Nov 3 – Dec 1 |
| Versailles | 7a | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Winchester | 6b | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
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 Kentucky, or the general guide to when to plant garlic.
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