When to plant garlic in Providence, Rhode Island

November 6 – November 13

Fall planting · typical Providence year

Climate basis: NOAA station Providence T F Green AP, RI (USW00014765), 7 mi (11 km) from downtown Providence (ZCTA 02903 centroid), elevation 60 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 30). One year in ten still freezes after April 23.

Last spring freezeApril 111-in-10 after Apr 23
First fall freezeOctober 301-in-10 before Oct 16
Frost-free season199 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 1Nov 9kills even hardy greens
USDA zone7a0 to 5°F winter low not frost timing

The Providence year

Fall plantingNov 6 – Nov 13
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 23
Garlic in Providence · freeze context from Providence T F Green AP, RI, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Fall planting

Nov 6 – Nov 13

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 30). 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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