When to plant garlic in Maine
Maine spans USDA zones 5a–6a, so the right time to plant garlic shifts by weeks across the state. The window to plant for fall/overwintering runs from about September 2 in Sanford to September 21 in Lewiston — below are local dates for 13 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Fall-plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 6a | April 26 | October 15 | September 17 – October 1 |
| Lewiston | 5b | April 25 | October 19 | September 21 – October 5 |
| Bangor | 5a | May 4 | October 4 | September 6 – September 20 |
| South Portland | 6a | April 26 | October 15 | September 17 – October 1 |
| Auburn | 5b | April 25 | October 19 | September 21 – October 5 |
| Biddeford | 6a | May 9 | October 3 | September 5 – September 19 |
| Sanford | 5b | May 16 | September 30 | September 2 – September 16 |
| Saco | 6a | April 26 | October 15 | September 17 – October 1 |
Garlic in Maine: FAQ
When can I plant garlic in Maine?
Across Maine, the time to fall-plant garlic spans roughly September 2 in Sanford to September 21 in Lewiston, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the garlic planting date vary across Maine?
Yes. Maine publishes 13 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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