When to plant garlic in Alabama

Fall planting in Huntsville

Oct 18–Nov 22

Across Alabama the window opens between October 11 and October 26. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Huntsville: Oct 18–Nov 22
Last frost, Huntsville: Mar 24

Plant cloves from 3 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant cloves pointy end up, about 2 inches deep. Roots grow before the ground freezes and leaves come up in spring.

Garlic planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

HuntsvilleOct 18–Nov 22

MobileOct 15–Nov 30

BirminghamOct 21–Nov 25

MontgomeryOct 15–Nov 30

TuscaloosaOct 20–Nov 24

HooverOct 18–Nov 22

AuburnOct 15–Nov 30

DothanOct 15–Nov 30

MadisonOct 18–Nov 22

DecaturOct 17–Nov 21

FlorenceOct 13–Nov 17

PrattvilleOct 23–Nov 27

Phenix CityOct 15–Nov 30

Vestavia HillsOct 21–Nov 25

OpelikaOct 15–Nov 19

AlabasterOct 26–Nov 30

AthensOct 22–Nov 26

GadsdenOct 23–Nov 27

NorthportOct 20–Nov 24

DaphneOct 15–Nov 30

EnterpriseOct 15–Nov 30

FoleyOct 15–Nov 30

HomewoodOct 21–Nov 25

TrussvilleOct 11–Nov 15

FairhopeOct 15–Nov 30

PelhamOct 18–Nov 22

BessemerOct 20–Nov 24

AlbertvilleOct 15–Nov 30

HelenaOct 18–Nov 22

OxfordOct 19–Nov 23

All 33 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Huntsville	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Mar 24
Mobile	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Feb 21
Birmingham	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Mar 21
Montgomery	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Mar 4
Tuscaloosa	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Mar 18
Hoover	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Mar 19
Auburn	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Mar 13
Dothan	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Mar 1
Madison	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Mar 24
Decatur	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Mar 26
Florence	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Mar 27
Prattville	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Mar 13
Phenix City	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Mar 5
Vestavia Hills	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Mar 21
Opelika	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Mar 29
Alabaster	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Mar 12
Athens	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 20
Gadsden	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Mar 19
Northport	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Mar 18
Daphne	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Mar 15
Enterprise	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Mar 9
Foley	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Mar 5
Homewood	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Mar 21
Trussville	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 4
Fairhope	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Mar 10
Pelham	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Mar 19
Bessemer	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Mar 23
Albertville	Oct 15 to Nov 30	Mar 17
Helena	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Mar 19
Oxford	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Mar 23
Mountain Brook	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Mar 21
Anniston	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Mar 23
Cullman	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Mar 31

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Alabama?

In Huntsville, fall planting from October 18 to November 22. Across Alabama the window opens between October 11 and October 26, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant cloves from 3 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Alabama

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Alabama