When to Plant Garlic in Illinois

In a typical Illinois location, plant in fall Sep 24 – Oct 8. Across the state, the fall planting window starts as early as Sep 13 in McHenry and as late as Oct 8 in Bethalto.

Method Direct sow

Days to maturity 240–270 days

Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.

Garlic Planting Dates by City

City	Fall planting
Chicago	Oct 8 – Oct 22
Aurora	Sep 25 – Oct 9
Rockford	Sep 19 – Oct 3
Joliet	Sep 27 – Oct 11
Naperville	Sep 18 – Oct 2
Peoria	Sep 25 – Oct 9
Springfield	Sep 24 – Oct 8
North Peoria	Sep 25 – Oct 9
Elgin	Sep 20 – Oct 4
Waukegan	Sep 21 – Oct 5
Champaign	Sep 26 – Oct 10
Cicero	Oct 3 – Oct 17
Bloomington	Sep 22 – Oct 6
Arlington Heights	Sep 28 – Oct 12
Evanston	Sep 23 – Oct 7
Schaumburg	Sep 15 – Sep 29
Bolingbrook	Sep 24 – Oct 8
Decatur	Sep 26 – Oct 10
Palatine	Sep 21 – Oct 5
Skokie	Sep 23 – Oct 7
Des Plaines	Sep 30 – Oct 14
Orland Park	Sep 24 – Oct 8
Tinley Park	Sep 22 – Oct 6
Oak Lawn	Oct 4 – Oct 18
Berwyn	Oct 3 – Oct 17
Mount Prospect	Sep 28 – Oct 12
Normal	Sep 18 – Oct 2
Wheaton	Sep 18 – Oct 2
Oak Park	Oct 3 – Oct 17
Hoffman Estates	Sep 15 – Sep 29

Showing the 30 most populous of 242 Illinois cities. Dates are estimates from each city's NOAA frost normals and university extension timing guidelines. See all Illinois cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant garlic in Illinois?

In a typical Illinois location, plant in fall Sep 24 – Oct 8. Across the state, the fall planting window starts as early as Sep 13 in McHenry and as late as Oct 8 in Bethalto.

When is the last frost in Illinois?

The average last spring frost in Illinois ranges from April 1 in Granite City to May 1 in Roscoe, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

How long do garlic take to grow?

Garlic typically take 240–270 days from planting to harvest. Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.

Other Crops in Illinois

When to plant garlic in other states