When to plant garlic in Indiana

Fall planting in Indianapolis

Sep 30–Nov 4

Across Indiana the window opens between September 25 and October 20. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Indianapolis: Sep 30–Nov 4
Last frost, Indianapolis: Apr 20

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

IndianapolisSep 30–Nov 4

Fort WayneSep 30–Nov 4

EvansvilleOct 20–Nov 24

CarmelSep 30–Nov 4

FishersSep 30–Nov 4

South BendOct 2–Nov 6

BloomingtonOct 5–Nov 9

NoblesvilleSep 30–Nov 4

HammondSep 29–Nov 3

LafayetteSep 27–Nov 1

GreenwoodSep 30–Nov 4

GaryOct 6–Nov 10

WestfieldSep 30–Nov 4

MuncieOct 4–Nov 8

KokomoSep 27–Nov 1

Terre HauteSep 28–Nov 2

AndersonOct 2–Nov 6

JeffersonvilleOct 19–Nov 23

ElkhartSep 30–Nov 4

ColumbusOct 4–Nov 8

MishawakaOct 2–Nov 6

LawrenceOct 5–Nov 9

West LafayetteSep 27–Nov 1

PortageOct 6–Nov 10

PlainfieldOct 6–Nov 10

New AlbanyOct 19–Nov 23

MerrillvilleOct 4–Nov 8

Crown PointSep 25–Oct 30

RichmondSep 29–Nov 3

ValparaisoOct 4–Nov 8

All 49 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Indianapolis	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 20
Fort Wayne	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 24
Evansville	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Mar 29
Carmel	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 21
Fishers	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 21
South Bend	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 23
Bloomington	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 15
Noblesville	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 21
Hammond	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Lafayette	Sep 27 to Nov 1	Apr 26
Greenwood	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 20
Gary	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 22
Westfield	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 21
Muncie	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 16
Kokomo	Sep 27 to Nov 1	Apr 27
Terre Haute	Sep 28 to Nov 2	Apr 15
Anderson	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 19
Jeffersonville	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Mar 31
Elkhart	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 26
Columbus	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 11
Mishawaka	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 23
Lawrence	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 18
West Lafayette	Sep 27 to Nov 1	Apr 26
Portage	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 22
Plainfield	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 12
New Albany	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Mar 31
Merrillville	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 22
Crown Point	Sep 25 to Oct 30	Apr 29
Richmond	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 24
Valparaiso	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 22
Goshen	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 26
Brownsburg	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 12
Zionsville	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 21
Michigan City	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 19
Granger	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 23
Schererville	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Hobart	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 22
Marion	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 26
Franklin	Sep 28 to Nov 2	Apr 20
Greenfield	Oct 1 to Nov 5	Apr 19
East Chicago	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Avon	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 12
St. John	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Munster	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Highland	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 23
La Porte	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 19
Seymour	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 16
Clarksville	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Mar 31
Shelbyville	Oct 1 to Nov 5	Apr 17

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Indiana?

In Indianapolis, fall planting from September 30 to November 4. Across Indiana the window opens between September 25 and October 20, 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 Indiana

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Indiana