When to Plant Garlic in Maryland
In Maryland, the time to plant garlic in fall runs from Oct 18 – Nov 15 in Brunswick to Nov 21 – Dec 19 in Baltimore. In Baltimore, it's Nov 21 – Dec 19. The average first fall frost differs by about 5 weeks across the state (Oct 18 in Brunswick, Nov 21 in Baltimore), 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 Maryland by city
| City | Zone | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 7b | Oct 30 – Nov 27 |
| Annapolis | 8a | Nov 13 – Dec 11 |
| Baltimore | 8a | Nov 21 – Dec 19 |
| Bel Air | 7b | Oct 30 – Nov 27 |
| Bladensburg | 7b | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| Bowie | 7a | Oct 22 – Nov 19 |
| Brunswick | 7a | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Cambridge | 8a | Nov 7 – Dec 5 |
| Chesapeake Beach | 8a | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Cheverly | 7b | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| College Park | 7b | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Cumberland | 7a | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| District Heights | 7b | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| Easton | 8a | Nov 7 – Dec 5 |
| Elkton | 7b | Nov 2 – Nov 30 |
| Frederick | 7b | Nov 6 – Dec 4 |
| Frostburg | 6b | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Fruitland | 7b | Nov 7 – Dec 5 |
| Gaithersburg | 7b | Nov 6 – Dec 4 |
| Glenarden | 7b | Oct 22 – Nov 19 |
| Greenbelt | 7b | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Hagerstown | 7a | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Hampstead | 7a | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Havre de Grace | 7b | Oct 30 – Nov 27 |
| Hyattsville | 7b | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| La Plata | 7b | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Laurel | 7b | Nov 9 – Dec 7 |
| Mount Airy | 7a | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Mount Rainier | 7b | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| New Carrollton | 7b | Oct 22 – Nov 19 |
| Ocean City | 8a | Nov 2 – Nov 30 |
| Poolesville | 7b | Oct 26 – Nov 23 |
| Riverdale Park | 7b | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| Rockville | 7b | Nov 6 – Dec 4 |
| Salisbury | 7b | Nov 7 – Dec 5 |
| Takoma Park | 7b | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| Taneytown | 7a | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
| Thurmont | 7a | Oct 30 – Nov 27 |
| Walkersville | 7a | Nov 6 – Dec 4 |
| Westminster | 7a | 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 Maryland, or the general guide to when to plant garlic.
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