Root Vegetable

When to Plant Garlic in Mississippi

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

The Short Answer

In Mississippi, soil conditions are an important factor for garlic. Rich delta soils in west. Heavy clay in many areas. Sandy in pine belt. Acidic throughout. Garlic can also be planted in fall, 6 weeks before your first frost.

Mississippi Frost Dates

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

Region Zones Last Frost (Spring) First Frost (Fall)
Northern Mississippi 7b, 8a Mar 15 - Apr 1 Nov 1 - Nov 15
Central Mississippi 8a, 8b Mar 1 - Mar 15 Nov 10 - Nov 25
Southern Mississippi 8b, 9a Feb 15 - Mar 5 Nov 15 - Dec 5

Garlic Planting Schedule for Mississippi

Northern Mississippi (Zones 7b, 8a)

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

Fall Planting
6 wks before first frost

Central Mississippi (Zones 8a, 8b)

Average last frost: Mar 1 - Mar 15 · Average first frost: Nov 10 - Nov 25

Fall Planting
6 wks before first frost

Southern Mississippi (Zones 8b, 9a)

Average last frost: Feb 15 - Mar 5 · Average first frost: Nov 15 - Dec 5

Fall Planting
6 wks before first frost

Growing Garlic in Mississippi

Garlic in Mississippi's Climate

Garlic grows well in warm climates but choose softneck varieties — most hardneck types don't get enough cold for proper bulb formation south of zone 7. Plant in October-November. Your mild winter means garlic grows actively through the cool months rather than going fully dormant. Harvest in May-June when lower leaves brown. Elephant garlic (actually a leek relative) also thrives in warm zones.

Soil Considerations for Mississippi

Rich delta soils in west. Heavy clay in many areas. Sandy in pine belt. Acidic throughout. Loose, well-drained soil is especially important for garlic since the edible portion grows underground. If your soil is heavy clay, consider raised beds.

Mississippi Climate & Growing Season

Long growing season. Hot, humid summers. Mild winters. Two-season gardening possible. Garlic can handle frost well, which is an advantage in Mississippi's climate. You can push planting dates earlier in spring and extend into fall.

Growing season length varies across Mississippi: Northern Mississippi (7b, 8a) has a last frost around Mar 15 - Apr 1, while Southern Mississippi (8b, 9a) sees frost end around Feb 15 - Mar 5. This difference matters for garlic — adjust your planting dates to match your specific region.

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 across Mississippi, but your exact planting dates depend on which region you're in. Northern Mississippi gardeners should plan around a Mar 15 - Apr 1 last frost, while those in Southern Mississippi can typically plant earlier. 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 Mississippi Planting Calendar All plants for Mississippi 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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