When to plant garlic in Columbia: 30 October – end of December

In Columbia, garlic: plant from 30 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Gardener's Outpost (garden centre, 2 km) and Southern Vistas, Inc. (garden centre, 4 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Garlic is best planted early in the window: cloves planted late make smaller bulbs. Late planting works only while the soil is not frozen. Mulch after planting.

The average daily temperature here stays above 0 °C all winter, and at least two months average 10 °C or less: the cold garlic needs, one to two months at 0–10 °C (RHS). The two-month threshold is our rule of thumb. Sources: UVM Extension, UNH Extension, RHS.

Garlic in Columbia: soil, season and weather

Garlic goes into the ground in Columbia from 30 October to the end of December; the window opens a month before the first autumn frost. No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 3.4 °C.

Planting	30 October – end of December
First autumn frost	29 November
Coldest nights	January, 3.4 °C
Soil back at 5 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Harvest (card)	about 8 months after planting: July
Daylight	10:53 on 30 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:53

The same dates in Columbia hold for Tulip, Daffodil, Crocus and Hyacinth.

Garlic in Columbia: care after planting

Planted on 30 October: in the first weeks water every 7 days.

Feeding, by the card’s schedule from that day:

30 October — feed: nitrogen
27 November — feed: nitrogen

Pests and diseases of garlic to watch for:

Dates count from the first planting day of the window above; a later planting moves them by as many days.

Garlic in nearby cities

Around Columbia, Asheville is 27 days earlier and Savannah 25 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Charlotte	138 km	14 October – end of December	16 days earlier
Greenville	159 km	23 October – end of December	7 days earlier
Charleston	170 km	by 20 November	21 days later
Savannah	214 km	by 24 November	25 days later
Athens (United States)	217 km	23 October – end of December	7 days earlier
Asheville	226 km	3 October – end of December	27 days earlier

Where to buy garlic for planting in Columbia

Planting stock goes into the ground from 30 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Columbia OpenStreetMap lists 6 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops and 3 markets (collected 28 October 2026).

Manchester Farms — farm supply
12 km
Gardener's Outpost — garden centre
Woodrow Street 709, 29205 Columbia · Mon–Sun 10:00–18:00 · 2 km · gardenersoutpost.com
Southern Vistas, Inc. — garden centre
Commerce Drive 2825, 29205 Columbia · 4 km
Seven Oaks Plant Shop — garden centre
Saint Andrews Road 4522, 29210 Columbia · 13 km

Questions