When to Plant Garlic in Nebraska
In Nebraska, the time to plant garlic in fall runs from Sep 28 – Oct 26 in Chadron to Oct 19 – Nov 16 in Bellevue. In Omaha, it's Oct 18 – Nov 15. The average first fall frost differs by about 3 weeks across the state (Sep 28 in Chadron, Oct 19 in Bellevue), 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 Nebraska by city
| City | Zone | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance | 5a | Oct 3 – Oct 31 |
| Beatrice | 6a | Oct 15 – Nov 12 |
| Bellevue | 6a | Oct 19 – Nov 16 |
| Blair | 5b | Oct 17 – Nov 14 |
| Chadron | 5a | Sep 28 – Oct 26 |
| Columbus | 5b | Oct 15 – Nov 12 |
| Crete | 6a | Oct 12 – Nov 9 |
| Fremont | 5b | Oct 15 – Nov 12 |
| Gering | 5b | Oct 3 – Oct 31 |
| Grand Island | 5b | Oct 15 – Nov 12 |
| Gretna | 6a | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Hastings | 6a | Oct 16 – Nov 13 |
| Holdrege | 6a | Oct 11 – Nov 8 |
| Kearney | 5b | Oct 10 – Nov 7 |
| La Vista | 6a | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Lexington | 5b | Oct 13 – Nov 10 |
| Lincoln | 6a | Oct 13 – Nov 10 |
| McCook | 6a | Oct 9 – Nov 6 |
| Nebraska City | 6a | Oct 19 – Nov 16 |
| Norfolk | 5b | Oct 4 – Nov 1 |
| North Platte | 5b | Oct 1 – Oct 29 |
| Omaha | 6a | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Papillion | 6a | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Plattsmouth | 6a | Oct 11 – Nov 8 |
| Ralston | 6a | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Schuyler | 5b | Oct 15 – Nov 12 |
| Scottsbluff | 5b | Oct 3 – Oct 31 |
| Seward | 5b | Oct 12 – Nov 9 |
| Sidney | 5b | Sep 30 – Oct 28 |
| South Sioux City | 5a | Oct 7 – Nov 4 |
| Wayne | 5a | Oct 11 – Nov 8 |
| York | 5b | 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 Nebraska, or the general guide to when to plant garlic.
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