When to plant garlic in Kentucky

Garlic
Fall planting in Louisville/Jefferson County
Oct 11–Nov 15

Across Kentucky the window opens between October 1 and October 13. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Louisville/Jefferson County
Oct 11–Nov 15
Last frost, Louisville/Jefferson County
Apr 6

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
Louisville/Jefferson CountyOct 11–Nov 15
Lexington-FayetteOct 7–Nov 11
Bowling GreenOct 10–Nov 14
OwensboroOct 11–Nov 15
CovingtonOct 4–Nov 8
GeorgetownOct 2–Nov 6
RichmondOct 1–Nov 5
ElizabethtownOct 4–Nov 8
FlorenceOct 4–Nov 8
NicholasvilleOct 7–Nov 11
HopkinsvilleOct 12–Nov 16
IndependenceOct 4–Nov 8
JeffersontownOct 13–Nov 17
FrankfortOct 3–Nov 7
HendersonOct 5–Nov 9
PaducahOct 6–Nov 10
RadcliffOct 4–Nov 8
AshlandOct 2–Nov 6
ErlangerOct 4–Nov 8

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Kentucky?

In Louisville/Jefferson County, fall planting from October 11 to November 15. Across Kentucky the window opens between October 1 and October 13, 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 Kentucky

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Kentucky