When to plant garlic in Burlington, Vermont

October 22 – October 29

Fall planting · typical Burlington year

Climate basis: NOAA station Burlington INTL AP, VT (USW00014742), 3 mi (5 km) from downtown Burlington (ZCTA 05401 centroid), elevation 330 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Plant garlic cloves from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median first fall 32°F freeze (October 15). One year in ten still freezes after May 11.

Last spring freezeApril 291-in-10 after May 11
First fall freezeOctober 151-in-10 before Oct 2
Frost-free season169 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 18Oct 28kills even hardy greens
USDA zone5b-15 to -10°F winter low not frost timing

The Burlington year

Fall plantingOct 22 – Oct 29
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 11
Garlic in Burlington · freeze context from Burlington INTL AP, VT, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Fall planting

Oct 22 – Oct 29

Minnesota: plant cloves in the fall, usually one or two weeks AFTER the first killing frost (before the ground freezes). Harvest is the following summer. Anchored to the median first fall freeze (Oct 15). University of Minnesota Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

Garlic is grown from cloves planted in fall, not from seed or spring transplants.

Transplant outdoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an outdoor transplanting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time direct sowing for this crop.

Variety assumption: Overwinters in the ground; bulbs are harvested the following summer.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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