When to plant garlic in Colorado

Fall planting in Denver

Sep 17–Oct 22

Across Colorado the window opens between September 10 and October 2. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Denver: Sep 17–Oct 22
Last frost, Denver: May 4

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

DenverSep 17–Oct 22

Colorado SpringsSep 17–Oct 22

AuroraSep 17–Oct 22

Fort CollinsSep 16–Oct 21

LakewoodSep 16–Oct 21

ThorntonSep 20–Oct 25

ArvadaSep 14–Oct 19

WestminsterSep 20–Oct 25

GreeleySep 17–Oct 22

PuebloSep 18–Oct 23

CentennialSep 17–Oct 22

BoulderSep 14–Oct 19

LongmontSep 14–Oct 19

LovelandSep 10–Oct 15

BroomfieldSep 20–Oct 25

Commerce CitySep 16–Oct 21

Grand JunctionOct 2–Nov 6

LittletonSep 20–Oct 25

BrightonSep 16–Oct 21

WindsorSep 15–Oct 20

ErieSep 14–Oct 19

NorthglennSep 20–Oct 25

Security-WidefieldSep 17–Oct 22

EnglewoodSep 20–Oct 25

Pueblo WestSep 22–Oct 27

Wheat RidgeSep 14–Oct 19

LafayetteSep 20–Oct 25

FountainSep 17–Oct 22

EvansSep 17–Oct 22

JohnstownSep 10–Oct 15

All 34 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Denver	Sep 17 to Oct 22	May 4
Colorado Springs	Sep 17 to Oct 22	May 3
Aurora	Sep 17 to Oct 22	May 7
Fort Collins	Sep 16 to Oct 21	May 2
Lakewood	Sep 16 to Oct 21	May 3
Thornton	Sep 20 to Oct 25	May 2
Arvada	Sep 14 to Oct 19	May 5
Westminster	Sep 20 to Oct 25	May 2
Greeley	Sep 17 to Oct 22	May 2
Pueblo	Sep 18 to Oct 23	Apr 30
Centennial	Sep 17 to Oct 22	May 5
Boulder	Sep 14 to Oct 19	May 6
Longmont	Sep 14 to Oct 19	May 7
Loveland	Sep 10 to Oct 15	May 10
Broomfield	Sep 20 to Oct 25	May 2
Commerce City	Sep 16 to Oct 21	May 3
Grand Junction	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 14
Littleton	Sep 20 to Oct 25	May 2
Brighton	Sep 16 to Oct 21	May 3
Windsor	Sep 15 to Oct 20	May 3
Erie	Sep 14 to Oct 19	May 7
Northglenn	Sep 20 to Oct 25	May 2
Security-Widefield	Sep 17 to Oct 22	May 3
Englewood	Sep 20 to Oct 25	May 2
Pueblo West	Sep 22 to Oct 27	Apr 26
Wheat Ridge	Sep 14 to Oct 19	May 5
Lafayette	Sep 20 to Oct 25	May 2
Fountain	Sep 17 to Oct 22	May 3
Evans	Sep 17 to Oct 22	May 2
Johnstown	Sep 10 to Oct 15	May 10
Four Square Mile	Sep 17 to Oct 22	May 7
Montrose	Sep 23 to Oct 28	Apr 28
Louisville	Sep 14 to Oct 19	May 6
Firestone	Sep 14 to Oct 19	May 7

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Colorado?

In Denver, fall planting from September 17 to October 22. Across Colorado the window opens between September 10 and October 2, 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 Colorado

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Colorado