When to plant garlic in Pennsylvania

Garlic
Fall planting in Philadelphia
Oct 15–Nov 30

Across Pennsylvania the window opens between September 27 and October 26. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Philadelphia
Oct 15–Nov 30
Last frost, Philadelphia
Mar 30

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
PhiladelphiaOct 15–Nov 30
PittsburghOct 7–Nov 11
AllentownOct 3–Nov 7
ReadingOct 8–Nov 12
ErieOct 14–Nov 18
BethlehemOct 3–Nov 7
ScrantonSep 29–Nov 3
LancasterOct 3–Nov 7
LevittownOct 4–Nov 8
HarrisburgOct 2–Nov 6
YorkSep 28–Nov 2
Wilkes-BarreSep 29–Nov 3
AltoonaSep 30–Nov 4
State CollegeOct 5–Nov 9
Penn HillsOct 11–Nov 15
NorristownOct 10–Nov 14
ChesterOct 26–Nov 30
Mount LebanonOct 7–Nov 11
Bethel ParkOct 7–Nov 11
EastonOct 4–Nov 8
HazletonOct 1–Nov 5
Drexel HillOct 20–Nov 24
MonroevilleOct 4–Nov 8
WilliamsportOct 3–Nov 7
LebanonOct 4–Nov 8
PlumOct 11–Nov 15
King of PrussiaOct 10–Nov 14
ChambersburgOct 4–Nov 8
PottstownOct 2–Nov 6
CarlisleSep 27–Nov 1
All 35 cities
CityFall plantingLast frost
PhiladelphiaOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 30
PittsburghOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 18
AllentownOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 20
ReadingOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
ErieOct 14 to Nov 18Apr 26
BethlehemOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 20
ScrantonSep 29 to Nov 3Apr 23
LancasterOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 19
LevittownOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 21
HarrisburgOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 15
YorkSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 26
Wilkes-BarreSep 29 to Nov 3Apr 23
AltoonaSep 30 to Nov 4Apr 25
State CollegeOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 20
Penn HillsOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 16
NorristownOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 8
ChesterOct 26 to Nov 30Mar 30
Mount LebanonOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 18
Bethel ParkOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 18
EastonOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 18
HazletonOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 30
Drexel HillOct 20 to Nov 24Apr 2
MonroevilleOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 22
WilliamsportOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 25
LebanonOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 20
PlumOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 16
King of PrussiaOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 8
ChambersburgOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 18
PottstownOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 20
CarlisleSep 27 to Nov 1Apr 23
Allison ParkOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 16
New CastleOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 30
MurrysvilleOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 22
BaldwinOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 18
PhoenixvilleOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 18

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia, fall planting from October 15 to November 30. Across Pennsylvania the window opens between September 27 and October 26, 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 Pennsylvania

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Pennsylvania