Zone 6b covers 25 days of last-frost dates. We measured Columbia, MO at Apr 7 and Santa Fe, NM at May 2. Give us your town or ZIP and we'll use ten years of daily lows recorded at your own coordinates instead of the middle of that range.
Why these dates work in zone 6b
Zone 6b's last spring frost averages Apr 19 and first fall frost Oct 29 — about 193 frost-free days. Garlic tolerates light frost, so you can sow ahead of the last-frost date and keep harvesting into the cooler fall.
Common questions
How long does garlic take to grow in zone 6b?
Garlic matures in about 240–280 days from sowing. In zone 6b that means sowing around Apr 5 and first picking around Dec 1.
Will garlic survive frost in zone 6b?
Yes — garlic tolerates light frost. In zone 6b you can sow a little before the last frost (around Apr 19) and keep harvesting past the first fall frost (around Oct 29).
For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full garlic growing guide →