When to plant garlic in Michigan

Garlic
Fall planting in Detroit
Oct 4–Nov 8

Across Michigan the window opens between September 14 and October 13. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Detroit
Oct 4–Nov 8
Last frost, Detroit
Apr 27

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
DetroitOct 4–Nov 8
Grand RapidsSep 19–Oct 24
WarrenOct 10–Nov 14
Sterling HeightsOct 3–Nov 7
Ann ArborSep 19–Oct 24
LansingSep 22–Oct 27
DearbornSep 24–Oct 29
LivoniaSep 26–Oct 31
TroyOct 1–Nov 5
Farmington HillsSep 26–Oct 31
WestlandOct 6–Nov 10
FlintSep 22–Oct 27
WyomingSep 19–Oct 24
Rochester HillsOct 1–Nov 5
SouthfieldSep 26–Oct 31
KalamazooSep 27–Nov 1
NoviSep 26–Oct 31
PontiacOct 1–Nov 5
TaylorOct 6–Nov 10
Dearborn HeightsSep 24–Oct 29
St. Clair ShoresOct 1–Nov 5
Royal OakOct 10–Nov 14
KentwoodSep 23–Oct 28
Battle CreekSep 28–Nov 2
PortageSep 27–Nov 1
East LansingSep 26–Oct 31
RosevilleOct 1–Nov 5
SaginawSep 30–Nov 4
MidlandSep 25–Oct 30
Lincoln ParkSep 24–Oct 29
All 59 cities
CityFall plantingLast frost
DetroitOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 27
Grand RapidsSep 19 to Oct 24May 6
WarrenOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 21
Sterling HeightsOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 30
Ann ArborSep 19 to Oct 24May 5
LansingSep 22 to Oct 27May 1
DearbornSep 24 to Oct 29May 1
LivoniaSep 26 to Oct 31May 1
TroyOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 26
Farmington HillsSep 26 to Oct 31May 1
WestlandOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 20
FlintSep 22 to Oct 27May 3
WyomingSep 19 to Oct 24May 6
Rochester HillsOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 26
SouthfieldSep 26 to Oct 31May 1
KalamazooSep 27 to Nov 1Apr 28
NoviSep 26 to Oct 31May 1
PontiacOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 26
TaylorOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 20
Dearborn HeightsSep 24 to Oct 29May 1
St. Clair ShoresOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 29
Royal OakOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 21
KentwoodSep 23 to Oct 28Apr 30
Battle CreekSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 30
PortageSep 27 to Nov 1Apr 28
East LansingSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 28
RosevilleOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 29
SaginawSep 30 to Nov 4Apr 29
MidlandSep 25 to Oct 30Apr 29
Lincoln ParkSep 24 to Oct 29May 1
MuskegonSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 30
HollandSep 30 to Nov 4Apr 28
EastpointeOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 29
Bay CitySep 29 to Nov 3Apr 27
JacksonSep 23 to Oct 28May 1
BurtonSep 14 to Oct 19May 8
Oak ParkOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 27
SouthgateOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 20
Forest HillsSep 29 to Nov 3Apr 29
Madison HeightsOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 21
Port HuronOct 13 to Nov 17Apr 19
Allen ParkSep 24 to Oct 29May 1
HamtramckOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 21
Garden CitySep 24 to Oct 29May 1
Auburn HillsOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 26
WalkerSep 19 to Oct 24May 6
AllendaleOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 30
OkemosSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 28
HoltSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 28
Norton ShoresSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 30
InksterOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 20
RomulusOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 20
WyandotteSep 24 to Oct 29May 1
WaverlySep 22 to Oct 27May 1
MarquetteSep 30 to Nov 4May 8
BirminghamOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 26
Mount PleasantSep 29 to Nov 3Apr 30
AdrianSep 24 to Oct 29May 1
MonroeOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 23

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Michigan?

In Detroit, fall planting from October 4 to November 8. Across Michigan the window opens between September 14 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 Michigan

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan