When to plant Garlic in Illinois
In spring, from Feb 10 – Mar 10 in Alton to Mar 15 – Apr 15 in Zion.
For a fall crop, Aug 1 – Oct 1.
USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.
| Place | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Addison | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Algonquin | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Alsip | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Alton | Feb 10 – Mar 10 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Antioch | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Arlington Heights | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Aurora | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Barrington | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Bartlett | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Batavia | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Beach Park | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Belleville | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Bellwood | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Belvidere | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Bensenville | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Berwyn | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Bloomingdale | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Bloomington | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Blue Island | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Bolingbrook | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Bourbonnais | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Bradley | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Bridgeview | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Brookfield | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Buffalo Grove | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Burbank | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Burr Ridge | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Cahokia Heights | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Calumet City | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Campton Hills | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Canton | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Carbondale | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Carol Stream | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Carpentersville | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Cary | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Centralia | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Champaign | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Channahon | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Charleston | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Chatham | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Chicago | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Chicago Heights | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Chicago Ridge | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Cicero | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Collinsville | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Columbia | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Country Club Hills | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Crest Hill | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Crestwood | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Crystal Lake | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Danville | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Darien | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Decatur | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Deerfield | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| DeKalb | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Des Plaines | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Dixon | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Dolton | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Downers Grove | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| East Moline | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| East Peoria | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| East St. Louis | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Edwardsville | Feb 10 – Mar 10 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Effingham | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Elgin | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Elk Grove Village | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Elmhurst | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Elmwood Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Evanston | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Evergreen Park | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Fairview Heights | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Forest Park | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Fox Lake | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Frankfort | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Franklin Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Freeport | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Galesburg | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Geneva | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Glen Carbon | Feb 10 – Mar 10 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Glen Ellyn | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Glendale Heights | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Glenview | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Godfrey | Feb 10 – Mar 10 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Granite City | Feb 10 – Mar 10 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Grayslake | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Gurnee | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Hanover Park | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Harvey | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Hazel Crest | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Herrin | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Hickory Hills | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Highland | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Highland Park | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Hinsdale | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Hoffman Estates | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Homer Glen | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Homewood | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Huntley | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Jacksonville | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Joliet | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Justice | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Kankakee | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Kewanee | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| La Grange | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| La Grange Park | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Lake Forest | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Lake in the Hills | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Lake Zurich | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Lansing | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Lemont | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Libertyville | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Lincoln | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Lincolnwood | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Lindenhurst | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Lisle | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Lockport | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Lombard | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Loves Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Lyons | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Machesney Park | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Macomb | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Mahomet | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Manhattan | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Marion | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Markham | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Matteson | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Mattoon | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Maywood | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| McHenry | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Melrose Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Midlothian | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Minooka | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Mokena | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Moline | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Montgomery | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Morris | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Morton | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Morton Grove | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Mount Prospect | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Mount Vernon | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Mundelein | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Naperville | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| New Lenox | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Niles | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Normal | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Norridge | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| North Aurora | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| North Chicago | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Northbrook | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Northlake | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| O'Fallon | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Oak Forest | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Oak Lawn | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Oak Park | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Orland Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Oswego | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Ottawa | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Palatine | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Palos Heights | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Palos Hills | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Park Forest | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Park Ridge | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Pekin | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Peoria | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Pingree Grove | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Plainfield | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Plano | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Pontiac | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Prospect Heights | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Quincy | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Rantoul | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Richton Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| River Forest | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| River Grove | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Riverdale | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Rock Island | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Rockford | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Rolling Meadows | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Romeoville | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Roscoe | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Roselle | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Round Lake | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Round Lake Beach | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Schaumburg | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Schiller Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Shiloh | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Shorewood | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Skokie | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| South Elgin | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| South Holland | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Springfield | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| St. Charles | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Sterling | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Streamwood | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Streator | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Summit | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Swansea | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Sycamore | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Taylorville | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Tinley Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Troy | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Urbana | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Vernon Hills | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Villa Park | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Warrenville | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Washington | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Waterloo | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Wauconda | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Waukegan | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| West Chicago | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Westchester | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Western Springs | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Westmont | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Wheaton | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Wheeling | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Wilmette | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Winfield | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Winnetka | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Wood Dale | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Wood River | Feb 10 – Mar 10 | Aug 1 – Oct 1 |
| Woodridge | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Woodstock | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Worth | Feb 20 – Mar 20 | Spring-planted |
| Yorkville | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
| Zion | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Spring-planted |
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. The full USDA table for garlic.