Root Vegetable

When to Plant Garlic in Georgia

Plant in fall, harvest in summer. Garlic is one of the most rewarding crops for the patient gardener.

The Short Answer

Georgia sits right on the dividing line between hardneck and softneck garlic territory. North Georgia mountain gardeners in Zones 6b-7a can grow excellent hardneck garlic with reliable winter cold. Piedmont gardeners in Zone 7b-8a are in the transition zone — some hardneck varieties work, others don't, and experimentation is the only way to find out what succeeds in your specific microclimate. South Georgia gardeners should stick with softneck and Creole types.

Georgia Frost Dates

Your planting dates depend on which part of Georgia you're in. Here are the frost date ranges by region:

Region Zones Last Frost (Spring) First Frost (Fall)
North Georgia Mountains 6b, 7a Apr 5 - Apr 20 Oct 10 - Oct 25
Central Georgia 7b, 8a Mar 15 - Apr 1 Nov 1 - Nov 15
South Georgia 8a, 8b, 9a Feb 28 - Mar 15 Nov 10 - Nov 25

Garlic Planting Schedule for Georgia

North Georgia Mountains (Zones 6b, 7a)

Average last frost: Apr 5 - Apr 20 · Average first frost: Oct 10 - Oct 25

Fall Planting
6 wks before first frost

Central Georgia (Zones 7b, 8a)

Average last frost: Mar 15 - Apr 1 · Average first frost: Nov 1 - Nov 15

Fall Planting
6 wks before first frost

South Georgia (Zones 8a, 8b, 9a)

Average last frost: Feb 28 - Mar 15 · Average first frost: Nov 10 - Nov 25

Fall Planting
6 wks before first frost

Growing Garlic in Georgia

State-Specific Growing Tips

Plant cloves from mid-October (mountains) through November (south Georgia). In the Piedmont's heavy red clay, good drainage is essential — garlic will rot in waterlogged clay over winter. Raised beds with compost-amended soil are the standard approach around Atlanta. Mulch with 2-3 inches of straw in north Georgia; lighter mulch or none in the south. Georgia's relatively mild springs mean garlic matures earlier than in northern states — expect harvest in late May (south) through mid-June (mountains). UGA Extension recommends soil testing before planting, as Georgia's acidic soils may need lime adjustment.

Recommended Varieties for Georgia

Mountains (Zones 6b-7a): hardneck varieties like Music, German Extra Hardy, and Purple Glazer. Piedmont (Zone 7b-8a): try both types — softneck Inchelium Red is reliable, and hardneck Music may or may not form proper cloves depending on your winter's cold accumulation. South Georgia: softneck and Creole varieties only. Georgia gardeners have found success with Asian Tempest and Georgian Crystal, despite the name coincidence — Georgian Crystal is actually from the Republic of Georgia.

Common Challenges in Georgia

Drainage in Piedmont clay is the #1 issue — waterlogged cloves rot over winter. Southern blight can attack garlic in the same way it attacks tomatoes. Rust appears in some years, particularly in humid conditions. In south Georgia, insufficient chill hours may produce undeveloped hardneck bulbs with a single large 'round' instead of individual cloves.

Growing Tips

Plant individual cloves pointy-side up in fall, 4-6 weeks before ground freezes. Mulch heavily. Harvest when lower leaves brown.

Companion Planting

Plant garlic alongside these companions for better growth:

Tomatoes Peppers Lettuce Beets

Keep garlic away from:

Beans Peas

The Bottom Line

Garlic can be grown successfully in Georgia with proper attention to regional frost dates and local growing conditions. Timing varies across the state — North Georgia Mountains gardeners work with a last frost around Apr 5 - Apr 20, while South Georgia sees frost end around Feb 28 - Mar 15. Choose varieties suited to your region, amend your soil based on its specific needs, and monitor for the pests and diseases most common in your area. For exact dates based on your zip code, use our free planting date finder.

Related Guides

Garlic Growing Guide National planting guide with all states Georgia Planting Calendar All plants for Georgia Garlic in Alabama Alabama planting dates Garlic in Alaska Alaska planting dates Garlic in Arizona Arizona planting dates Garlic in Arkansas Arkansas planting dates
Note: All dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages, not predictions for any specific year. Always check your local weather forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops. Learn about our data sources.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026

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