When to Plant Garlic in Texas
In Texas, the time to plant garlic in fall runs from Jan 1 – Jan 29 in McAllen to Dec 28 – Jan 25 in Pasadena. In Houston, it's Dec 25 – Jan 22. The average first fall frost differs by about 52 weeks across the state (Jan 1 in McAllen, Dec 28 in Pasadena), 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 Texas by city
| City | Zone | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene | 8a | Nov 10 – Dec 8 |
| Allen | 8b | Nov 11 – Dec 9 |
| Amarillo | 7a | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Arlington | 8b | Nov 21 – Dec 19 |
| Austin | 9a | Dec 3 – Dec 31 |
| Beaumont | 9b | Dec 4 – Jan 1 |
| Brownsville | 10a | Jan 4 – Feb 1 |
| Carrollton | 8b | Nov 21 – Dec 19 |
| College Station | 9a | Nov 30 – Dec 28 |
| Conroe | 9a | Dec 2 – Dec 30 |
| Corpus Christi | 10a | Jan 4 – Feb 1 |
| Dallas | 8b | Nov 29 – Dec 27 |
| Denton | 8a | Nov 20 – Dec 18 |
| El Paso | 8b | Nov 20 – Dec 18 |
| Fort Worth | 8b | Nov 24 – Dec 22 |
| Frisco | 8b | Nov 21 – Dec 19 |
| Garland | 8b | Nov 21 – Dec 19 |
| Grand Prairie | 8b | Nov 13 – Dec 11 |
| Houston | 9b | Dec 25 – Jan 22 |
| Irving | 8b | Nov 24 – Dec 22 |
| Killeen | 8b | Nov 17 – Dec 15 |
| Laredo | 9b | Dec 17 – Jan 14 |
| League City | 9b | Dec 14 – Jan 11 |
| Lewisville | 8b | Nov 17 – Dec 15 |
| Lubbock | 7b | Nov 11 – Dec 9 |
| McAllen | 10a | Jan 1 – Jan 29 |
| McKinney | 8b | Nov 15 – Dec 13 |
| Mesquite | 8b | Nov 19 – Dec 17 |
| Midland | 8b | Nov 9 – Dec 7 |
| New Braunfels | 9a | Nov 18 – Dec 16 |
| Odessa | 8b | Nov 16 – Dec 14 |
| Pasadena | 9b | Dec 28 – Jan 25 |
| Pearland | 9b | Dec 27 – Jan 24 |
| Plano | 8b | Nov 21 – Dec 19 |
| Richardson | 8b | Nov 21 – Dec 19 |
| Round Rock | 9a | Nov 20 – Dec 18 |
| San Antonio | 9a | Nov 28 – Dec 26 |
| Sugar Land | 9b | Dec 13 – Jan 10 |
| Tyler | 8b | Nov 21 – Dec 19 |
| Waco | 8b | Nov 20 – Dec 18 |
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 Texas, or the general guide to when to plant garlic.
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