When to plant garlic in North Dakota
North Dakota spans USDA zones 4a–4b, so the right time to plant garlic shifts by weeks across the state. The window to plant for fall/overwintering runs from about August 24 in Williston to September 4 in Fargo — below are local dates for 9 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Fall-plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | 4a | May 4 | October 2 | September 4 – September 18 |
| Bismarck | 4a | May 10 | September 30 | September 2 – September 16 |
| Grand Forks | 4a | May 10 | October 1 | September 3 – September 17 |
| Minot | 4a | May 10 | October 1 | September 3 – September 17 |
| West Fargo | 4a | May 4 | October 2 | September 4 – September 18 |
| Williston | 4a | May 21 | September 21 | August 24 – September 7 |
| Dickinson | 4b | May 20 | September 22 | August 25 – September 8 |
| Mandan | 4a | May 13 | September 27 | August 30 – September 13 |
Garlic in North Dakota: FAQ
When can I plant garlic in North Dakota?
Across North Dakota, the time to fall-plant garlic spans roughly August 24 in Williston to September 4 in Fargo, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the garlic planting date vary across North Dakota?
Yes. North Dakota publishes 9 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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