When to plant garlic in Maryland

Garlic
Fall planting in Baltimore
Oct 15–Nov 30

Across Maryland the window opens between September 29 and October 23. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Baltimore
Oct 15–Nov 30
Last frost, Baltimore
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. Where winters are mild, plant in October or November so cloves get some cool weather.

Garlic planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
BaltimoreOct 15–Nov 30
ColumbiaOct 19–Nov 23
FrederickOct 16–Nov 20
GermantownOct 8–Nov 12
WaldorfOct 6–Nov 10
Silver SpringOct 11–Nov 15
Ellicott CityOct 17–Nov 21
Glen BurnieOct 10–Nov 14
GaithersburgOct 16–Nov 20
RockvilleOct 16–Nov 20
BethesdaOct 10–Nov 14
DundalkOct 15–Nov 30
BowieOct 1–Nov 5
SevernOct 10–Nov 14
Bel Air SouthOct 9–Nov 13
TowsonOct 17–Nov 21
Aspen HillOct 16–Nov 20
WheatonOct 16–Nov 20
North BethesdaOct 16–Nov 20
PotomacOct 16–Nov 20
OdentonOct 10–Nov 14
HagerstownOct 7–Nov 11
CatonsvilleOct 15–Nov 30
EssexOct 15–Nov 30
AnnapolisOct 23–Nov 27
Severna ParkOct 23–Nov 27
ClintonOct 18–Nov 22
OlneyOct 16–Nov 20
RandallstownOct 17–Nov 21
Owings MillsOct 17–Nov 21
All 68 cities
CityFall plantingLast frost
BaltimoreOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
ColumbiaOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 5
FrederickOct 16 to Nov 20Apr 2
GermantownOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
WaldorfOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 17
Silver SpringOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 10
Ellicott CityOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
Glen BurnieOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 10
GaithersburgOct 16 to Nov 20Apr 1
RockvilleOct 16 to Nov 20Apr 1
BethesdaOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 9
DundalkOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
BowieOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 22
SevernOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 10
Bel Air SouthOct 9 to Nov 13Apr 10
TowsonOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
Aspen HillOct 16 to Nov 20Apr 1
WheatonOct 16 to Nov 20Apr 1
North BethesdaOct 16 to Nov 20Apr 1
PotomacOct 16 to Nov 20Apr 1
OdentonOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 10
HagerstownOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 11
CatonsvilleOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
EssexOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
AnnapolisOct 23 to Nov 27Mar 27
Severna ParkOct 23 to Nov 27Mar 27
ClintonOct 18 to Nov 22Apr 3
OlneyOct 16 to Nov 20Apr 1
RandallstownOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
Owings MillsOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
College ParkOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 10
ChillumOct 18 to Nov 22Mar 29
PikesvilleOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
Montgomery VillageOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
SalisburyOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 3
PasadenaOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 10
Milford MillOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
Middle RiverOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
Bel Air NorthOct 9 to Nov 13Apr 10
EldersburgOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
ParkvilleOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
LaurelOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 5
CroftonOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 22
ClarksburgOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
Perry HallOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
CarneyOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
ReisterstownOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
South LaurelOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 5
LochearnOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
IlchesterOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 10
FairlandOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 5
ElkridgeOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 10
Ballenger CreekOct 16 to Nov 20Apr 2
Fort WashingtonOct 18 to Nov 22Apr 3
North LaurelOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 5
EdgewoodOct 9 to Nov 13Apr 10
GreenbeltOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 10
SuitlandOct 18 to Nov 22Mar 29
LandoverOct 18 to Nov 22Mar 29
North PotomacOct 16 to Nov 20Apr 1
ArnoldOct 23 to Nov 27Mar 27
CockeysvilleOct 17 to Nov 21Apr 2
Camp SpringsOct 18 to Nov 22Apr 3
Langley ParkOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 10
HyattsvilleOct 18 to Nov 22Mar 29
ArbutusOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
RosedaleOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
WestminsterSep 29 to Nov 3Apr 24

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Maryland?

In Baltimore, fall planting from October 15 to November 30. Across Maryland the window opens between September 29 and October 23, 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 Maryland

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Maryland