When to plant garlic in Massachusetts

Garlic
Fall planting in Boston
Oct 19–Nov 23

Across Massachusetts the window opens between September 14 and October 19. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Boston
Oct 19–Nov 23
Last frost, Boston
Apr 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
BostonOct 19–Nov 23
WorcesterSep 30–Nov 4
SpringfieldSep 17–Oct 22
CambridgeOct 2–Nov 6
LowellSep 19–Oct 24
BrocktonSep 28–Nov 2
LynnSep 29–Nov 3
QuincyOct 1–Nov 5
New BedfordSep 24–Oct 29
Fall RiverSep 24–Oct 29
NewtonOct 2–Nov 6
LawrenceOct 7–Nov 11
SomervilleOct 19–Nov 23
FraminghamSep 21–Oct 26
HaverhillSep 21–Oct 26
MaldenOct 19–Nov 23
WalthamSep 19–Oct 24
BrooklineOct 2–Nov 6
TauntonSep 28–Nov 2
RevereOct 19–Nov 23
MedfordOct 19–Nov 23
Weymouth TownOct 1–Nov 5
PeabodySep 26–Oct 31
ChicopeeSep 17–Oct 22
MethuenOct 7–Nov 11
EverettOct 19–Nov 23
Barnstable TownOct 9–Nov 13
AttleboroSep 24–Oct 29
ArlingtonSep 19–Oct 24
SalemSep 29–Nov 3
All 69 cities
CityFall plantingLast frost
BostonOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 4
WorcesterSep 30 to Nov 4Apr 23
SpringfieldSep 17 to Oct 22May 3
CambridgeOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 19
LowellSep 19 to Oct 24Apr 30
BrocktonSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 22
LynnSep 29 to Nov 3Apr 25
QuincyOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 25
New BedfordSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 29
Fall RiverSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 29
NewtonOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 19
LawrenceOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 13
SomervilleOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 4
FraminghamSep 21 to Oct 26Apr 26
HaverhillSep 21 to Oct 26May 1
MaldenOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 4
WalthamSep 19 to Oct 24Apr 28
BrooklineOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 19
TauntonSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 22
RevereOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 4
MedfordOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 4
Weymouth TownOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 25
PeabodySep 26 to Oct 31Apr 24
ChicopeeSep 17 to Oct 22May 3
MethuenOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 13
EverettOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 4
Barnstable TownOct 9 to Nov 13Apr 16
AttleboroSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 27
ArlingtonSep 19 to Oct 24Apr 28
SalemSep 29 to Nov 3Apr 25
LeominsterSep 20 to Oct 25Apr 29
WoburnSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 25
BeverlySep 21 to Oct 26May 4
PittsfieldSep 14 to Oct 19May 5
MarlboroughSep 15 to Oct 20May 2
FitchburgSep 18 to Oct 23May 1
Amherst TownSep 17 to Oct 22May 5
WestfieldSep 17 to Oct 22May 3
ChelseaOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 4
Braintree TownOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 25
HolyokeSep 17 to Oct 22May 3
WatertownOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 19
Randolph TownOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 18
LexingtonSep 19 to Oct 24Apr 28
Franklin TownSep 18 to Oct 23Apr 30
NeedhamSep 21 to Oct 26Apr 26
North Attleborough TownSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 22
NorwoodSep 18 to Oct 23Apr 25
NorthamptonSep 17 to Oct 22May 5
GloucesterSep 21 to Oct 26May 4
WellesleySep 21 to Oct 26Apr 26
MelroseSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 25
Bridgewater TownSep 18 to Oct 23May 1
West Springfield TownSep 17 to Oct 22May 3
Agawam TownSep 17 to Oct 22May 3
SaugusSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 25
MiltonOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 18
DanversSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 24
MilfordSep 18 to Oct 23Apr 30
WakefieldSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 25
BelmontOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 19
BurlingtonSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 25
ReadingSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 25
DedhamSep 18 to Oct 23Apr 25
WilmingtonSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 25
StonehamSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 25
WinchesterSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 25
GardnerSep 22 to Oct 27May 2
MarbleheadSep 29 to Nov 3Apr 25

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Massachusetts?

In Boston, fall planting from October 19 to November 23. Across Massachusetts the window opens between September 14 and October 19, 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 Massachusetts

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Massachusetts