When to plant garlic in Memphis, Tennessee

November 17 – November 24

Fall planting · typical Memphis year

Climate basis: NOAA station W Memphis, AR (USC00037712), 7 mi (12 km) from downtown Memphis (ZCTA 38103 centroid), elevation 215 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Plant garlic cloves from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median first fall 32°F freeze (November 10). One year in ten still freezes after April 7.

Last spring freezeMarch 191-in-10 after Apr 7
First fall freezeNovember 101-in-10 before Oct 28
Frost-free season235 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Mar 7Nov 22kills even hardy greens
USDA zone8a10 to 15°F winter low not frost timing

The Memphis year

Fall plantingNov 17 – Nov 24
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 7
Garlic in Memphis · freeze context from W Memphis, AR, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Fall planting

Nov 17 – Nov 24

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 (Nov 10). 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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