When to plant garlic in Wichita, Kansas

November 5 – November 12

Fall planting · typical Wichita year

Climate basis: NOAA station Wichita, KS (USW00003928), 6 mi (10 km) from downtown Wichita (ZCTA 67202 centroid), elevation 1335 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 29). One year in ten still freezes after April 26.

Last spring freezeApril 111-in-10 after Apr 26
First fall freezeOctober 291-in-10 before Oct 15
Frost-free season199 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Mar 31Nov 6kills even hardy greens
USDA zone7a0 to 5°F winter low not frost timing

The Wichita year

Fall plantingNov 5 – Nov 12
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 26
Garlic in Wichita · freeze context from Wichita, KS, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Fall planting

Nov 5 – Nov 12

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 29). 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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