When to plant garlic in Wisconsin

Garlic
Fall planting in Milwaukee
Sep 27–Nov 1

Across Wisconsin the window opens between September 13 and October 5. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Milwaukee
Sep 27–Nov 1
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

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
MilwaukeeSep 27–Nov 1
MadisonSep 18–Oct 23
Green BaySep 18–Oct 23
KenoshaSep 28–Nov 2
RacineOct 3–Nov 7
AppletonSep 15–Oct 20
Eau ClaireSep 23–Oct 28
WaukeshaSep 22–Oct 27
OshkoshSep 29–Nov 3
JanesvilleSep 24–Oct 29
West AllisOct 1–Nov 5
La CrosseSep 22–Oct 27
SheboyganOct 2–Nov 6
WauwatosaSep 27–Nov 1
Fond du LacSep 28–Nov 2
BrookfieldSep 23–Oct 28
Menomonee FallsSep 17–Oct 22
WausauSep 13–Oct 18
New BerlinSep 23–Oct 28
Sun PrairieSep 19–Oct 24
Oak CreekOct 5–Nov 9
GreenfieldSep 23–Oct 28
FranklinSep 23–Oct 28
BeloitSep 21–Oct 26
ManitowocSep 29–Nov 3
FitchburgSep 18–Oct 23
West BendSep 21–Oct 26
Mount PleasantOct 3–Nov 7
NeenahSep 15–Oct 20
SuperiorSep 18–Oct 23
All 43 cities
CityFall plantingLast frost
MilwaukeeSep 27 to Nov 1Apr 26
MadisonSep 18 to Oct 23May 1
Green BaySep 18 to Oct 23May 7
KenoshaSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 28
RacineOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 20
AppletonSep 15 to Oct 20May 4
Eau ClaireSep 23 to Oct 28Apr 24
WaukeshaSep 22 to Oct 27May 1
OshkoshSep 29 to Nov 3Apr 24
JanesvilleSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 26
West AllisOct 1 to Nov 5Apr 26
La CrosseSep 22 to Oct 27Apr 27
SheboyganOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 25
WauwatosaSep 27 to Nov 1Apr 26
Fond du LacSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 27
BrookfieldSep 23 to Oct 28Apr 30
Menomonee FallsSep 17 to Oct 22May 6
WausauSep 13 to Oct 18May 6
New BerlinSep 23 to Oct 28May 3
Sun PrairieSep 19 to Oct 24May 1
Oak CreekOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 22
GreenfieldSep 23 to Oct 28May 3
FranklinSep 23 to Oct 28May 3
BeloitSep 21 to Oct 26May 1
ManitowocSep 29 to Nov 3Apr 30
FitchburgSep 18 to Oct 23May 1
West BendSep 21 to Oct 26May 1
Mount PleasantOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 20
NeenahSep 15 to Oct 20May 4
SuperiorSep 18 to Oct 23May 6
Stevens PointSep 16 to Oct 21May 4
MuskegoSep 23 to Oct 28May 3
De PereSep 18 to Oct 23Apr 30
CaledoniaOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 24
MequonSep 17 to Oct 22May 6
MiddletonSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 28
WatertownSep 21 to Oct 26Apr 28
HowardSep 18 to Oct 23May 7
Pleasant PrairieOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 19
GermantownSep 17 to Oct 22May 6
OnalaskaSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 23
South MilwaukeeOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 22
OconomowocSep 21 to Oct 26Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, fall planting from September 27 to November 1. Across Wisconsin the window opens between September 13 and October 5, 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 Wisconsin

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin