When to Plant Garlic in Ohio
In Ohio, the time to plant garlic in fall runs from Oct 12 – Nov 9 in Warren to Nov 12 – Dec 10 in Cleveland. In Columbus, it's Oct 24 – Nov 21. The average first fall frost differs by about 4 weeks across the state (Oct 12 in Warren, Nov 12 in Cleveland), 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 Ohio by city
| City | Zone | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|
| Akron | 6b | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Beavercreek | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Canton | 6b | Oct 26 – Nov 23 |
| Cincinnati | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Cleveland | 7a | Nov 12 – Dec 10 |
| Cleveland Heights | 6b | Nov 12 – Dec 10 |
| Columbus | 6b | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Cuyahoga Falls | 6b | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Dayton | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Delaware | 6b | Oct 26 – Nov 23 |
| Dublin | 6b | Oct 23 – Nov 20 |
| Elyria | 6b | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Euclid | 7a | Nov 12 – Dec 10 |
| Fairfield | 6b | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Findlay | 6b | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Gahanna | 6b | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Grove City | 6b | Oct 19 – Nov 16 |
| Hamilton | 6b | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Hilliard | 6b | Oct 23 – Nov 20 |
| Huber Heights | 6b | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Kettering | 6b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Lakewood | 7a | Nov 3 – Dec 1 |
| Lancaster | 6a | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Lorain | 6b | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Mansfield | 6a | Oct 22 – Nov 19 |
| Marion | 6a | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
| Mason | 6b | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Mentor | 7a | Nov 9 – Dec 7 |
| Middletown | 6b | Oct 19 – Nov 16 |
| Newark | 6a | Oct 16 – Nov 13 |
| North Ridgeville | 6b | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Parma | 6b | Nov 3 – Dec 1 |
| Reynoldsburg | 6b | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Springfield | 6a | Oct 19 – Nov 16 |
| Strongsville | 6b | Nov 3 – Dec 1 |
| Toledo | 6b | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Upper Arlington | 6b | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Warren | 6a | Oct 12 – Nov 9 |
| Westerville | 6b | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Youngstown | 6a | Oct 17 – Nov 14 |
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 Ohio, or the general guide to when to plant garlic.
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