When to plant garlic in North Carolina
North Carolina spans USDA zones 7a–8b, so the right time to plant garlic shifts by weeks across the state. The window to plant for fall/overwintering runs from about September 15 in Boone to October 25 in Havelock — below are local dates for 96 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Fall-plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 8a | March 30 | November 3 | October 6 – October 20 |
| Raleigh | 8a | March 28 | November 8 | October 11 – October 25 |
| Greensboro | 8a | April 1 | November 4 | October 7 – October 21 |
| Durham | 8a | April 2 | November 4 | October 7 – October 21 |
| Winston-Salem | 8a | March 26 | November 9 | October 12 – October 26 |
| Fayetteville | 8a | March 30 | November 10 | October 13 – October 27 |
| Cary | 8a | March 27 | November 8 | October 11 – October 25 |
| Wilmington | 8b | March 19 | November 20 | October 23 – November 6 |
Garlic in North Carolina: FAQ
When can I plant garlic in North Carolina?
Across North Carolina, the time to fall-plant garlic spans roughly September 15 in Boone to October 25 in Havelock, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the garlic planting date vary across North Carolina?
Yes. North Carolina publishes 96 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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