When to plant garlic in Virginia

Garlic
Fall planting in Virginia Beach
Oct 22–Nov 26

Across Virginia the window opens between September 28 and October 26. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Virginia Beach
Oct 22–Nov 26
Last frost, Virginia Beach
Mar 29

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
Virginia BeachOct 22–Nov 26
RichmondOct 14–Nov 18
ArlingtonOct 15–Nov 30
NorfolkOct 15–Nov 30
Newport NewsOct 19–Nov 23
AlexandriaOct 15–Nov 30
HamptonOct 25–Nov 29
SuffolkOct 25–Nov 29
RoanokeOct 11–Nov 15
PortsmouthOct 26–Nov 30
LynchburgOct 4–Nov 8
Dale CityOct 6–Nov 10
CentrevilleOct 3–Nov 7
RestonOct 8–Nov 12
HarrisonburgOct 2–Nov 6
McLeanOct 10–Nov 14
LeesburgOct 4–Nov 8
TuckahoeOct 10–Nov 14
AshburnOct 5–Nov 9
BlacksburgSep 28–Nov 2
Lake RidgeOct 6–Nov 10
CharlottesvilleOct 20–Nov 24
ManassasOct 6–Nov 10
WoodbridgeOct 18–Nov 22
BurkeOct 8–Nov 12
Linton HallOct 6–Nov 10
AnnandaleOct 8–Nov 12
DanvilleOct 11–Nov 15
MechanicsvilleOct 10–Nov 14
OaktonOct 8–Nov 12
All 64 cities
CityFall plantingLast frost
Virginia BeachOct 22 to Nov 26Mar 29
RichmondOct 14 to Nov 18Apr 3
ArlingtonOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
NorfolkOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 16
Newport NewsOct 19 to Nov 23Apr 1
AlexandriaOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
HamptonOct 25 to Nov 29Mar 24
SuffolkOct 25 to Nov 29Mar 27
RoanokeOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 3
PortsmouthOct 26 to Nov 30Mar 23
LynchburgOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 17
Dale CityOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 12
CentrevilleOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 15
RestonOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
HarrisonburgOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 21
McLeanOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 9
LeesburgOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 16
TuckahoeOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 10
AshburnOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 13
BlacksburgSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 24
Lake RidgeOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 12
CharlottesvilleOct 20 to Nov 24Apr 2
ManassasOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 12
WoodbridgeOct 18 to Nov 22Mar 28
BurkeOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
Linton HallOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 12
AnnandaleOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
DanvilleOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 8
MechanicsvilleOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 10
OaktonOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
Fair OaksOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
South RidingOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 15
PetersburgOct 13 to Nov 17Apr 3
SterlingOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 13
SpringfieldOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
West Falls ChurchOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
FredericksburgOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 6
WinchesterOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 11
Short PumpOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 10
TysonsOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
StauntonOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 15
FairfaxOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
Cave SpringOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 3
SalemOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 3
HerndonOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 15
Bailey's CrossroadsOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
BrambletonOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 13
WaynesboroOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 21
ChantillyOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 15
ChesterOct 13 to Nov 17Apr 3
Cherry HillOct 18 to Nov 22Mar 28
HopewellOct 16 to Nov 20Mar 31
West SpringfieldOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
LeesylvaniaOct 18 to Nov 22Mar 28
McNairOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 15
ChristiansburgOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 19
MontclairOct 18 to Nov 22Mar 28
CulpeperOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 21
LortonOct 18 to Nov 22Apr 3
WoodlawnOct 18 to Nov 22Apr 3
Rose HillOct 15 to Nov 30Mar 24
MerrifieldOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 14
BuckhallOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 12
MeadowbrookOct 14 to Nov 18Apr 3

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, fall planting from October 22 to November 26. Across Virginia the window opens between September 28 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 Virginia

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Virginia