When to plant garlic in Kentucky
Kentucky spans USDA zones 6b–7b, so the right time to plant garlic shifts by weeks across the state. The window to plant for fall/overwintering runs from about September 12 in Shelbyville to October 10 in Shively — below are local dates for 46 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Fall-plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | 7a | April 6 | November 1 | October 4 – October 18 |
| Lexington-Fayette urban county | 7a | April 13 | October 28 | September 30 – October 14 |
| Bowling Green | 7a | April 5 | October 31 | October 3 – October 17 |
| Owensboro | 7a | April 2 | November 1 | October 4 – October 18 |
| Covington | 6b | April 16 | October 25 | September 27 – October 11 |
| Georgetown | 6b | April 18 | October 23 | September 25 – October 9 |
| Richmond | 7a | April 15 | October 22 | September 24 – October 8 |
| Florence | 6b | April 18 | October 25 | September 27 – October 11 |
Garlic in Kentucky: FAQ
When can I plant garlic in Kentucky?
Across Kentucky, the time to fall-plant garlic spans roughly September 12 in Shelbyville to October 10 in Shively, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the garlic planting date vary across Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky publishes 46 cities with their own frost dates, so the right garlic planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
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