When to plant garlic in Virginia
Virginia 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 20 in Radford to October 29 in Norfolk — below are local dates for 127 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Fall-plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 8b | March 29 | November 12 | October 15 – October 29 |
| Chesapeake | 8a | March 23 | November 18 | October 21 – November 4 |
| Arlington | 7b | March 24 | November 18 | October 21 – November 4 |
| Norfolk | 8b | March 16 | November 26 | October 29 – November 12 |
| Richmond | 7b | April 3 | November 4 | October 7 – October 21 |
| Newport News | 8a | April 1 | November 9 | October 12 – October 26 |
| Alexandria | 8a | March 24 | November 18 | October 21 – November 4 |
| Hampton | 8b | March 24 | November 15 | October 18 – November 1 |
Garlic in Virginia: FAQ
When can I plant garlic in Virginia?
Across Virginia, the time to fall-plant garlic spans roughly September 20 in Radford to October 29 in Norfolk, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the garlic planting date vary across Virginia?
Yes. Virginia publishes 127 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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