When to Plant Garlic in Wisconsin

In a typical Wisconsin location, plant in fall Sep 15 – Sep 29. Across the state, the fall planting window starts as early as Sep 2 in Wisconsin Rapids and as late as Oct 1 in Saint Francis.

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
Milwaukee	Sep 24 – Oct 8
Madison	Sep 11 – Sep 25
Green Bay	Sep 11 – Sep 25
Kenosha	Sep 28 – Oct 12
Racine	Sep 26 – Oct 10
Appleton	Sep 8 – Sep 22
Waukesha	Sep 15 – Sep 29
Eau Claire	Sep 16 – Sep 30
Oshkosh	Sep 22 – Oct 6
Janesville	Sep 17 – Oct 1
West Allis	Sep 24 – Oct 8
La Crosse	Sep 15 – Sep 29
North La Crosse	Sep 19 – Oct 3
Sheboygan	Sep 25 – Oct 9
Wauwatosa	Sep 20 – Oct 4
Fond du Lac	Sep 21 – Oct 5
New Berlin	Sep 16 – Sep 30
Wausau	Sep 6 – Sep 20
Brookfield	Sep 16 – Sep 30
Greenfield	Sep 16 – Sep 30
Beloit	Sep 14 – Sep 28
Franklin	Sep 16 – Sep 30
Menomonee Falls	Sep 10 – Sep 24
Oak Creek	Sep 28 – Oct 12
Manitowoc	Sep 22 – Oct 6
Sun Prairie	Sep 12 – Sep 26
West Bend	Sep 14 – Sep 28
Fitchburg	Sep 11 – Sep 25
Stevens Point	Sep 9 – Sep 23
Superior	Sep 11 – Sep 25

Showing the 30 most populous of 96 Wisconsin cities. Dates are estimates from each city's NOAA frost normals and university extension timing guidelines. See all Wisconsin cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant garlic in Wisconsin?

In a typical Wisconsin location, plant in fall Sep 15 – Sep 29. Across the state, the fall planting window starts as early as Sep 2 in Wisconsin Rapids and as late as Oct 1 in Saint Francis.

When is the last frost in Wisconsin?

The average last spring frost in Wisconsin ranges from April 19 in Kenosha to May 11 in Merrill, 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 Wisconsin

When to plant garlic in other states