The garlic stocked in grocery stores is often shipped in from faraway places, so it won’t necessary be a strain that works with your climate and soil type. Garlic sold in grocery stores has usually been treated with chemicals to make it last longer on the shelf. It’s harder to grow treated garlic than untreated garlic.
If you’re planting garlic in the fall, plan to plant it 6 - 8 weeks before the ground freezes. If you’re planting garlic in the spring, plant it as soon as the ground can be worked in February or March.
If you wish, prepare to grow the garlic in a pot. Choose a pot wide and deep enough to hold the garlic you wish to grow, and fill it with rich potting soil.
Don’t harvest the garlic too late in the season - the bulbs will shrivel and the garlic won’t be good to eat. Garlic harvested too early won’t cure properly.
You can cut off the stem and cure the garlic bulbs individually in a storage bin. Make sure they get plenty of air circulation. Another common way to cure and store garlic is to leave the stems attached and braid them, then hang the garlic in a cool, dry place. You can also cure your garlic by hanging the cloves upside down in a warm, shaded area with the leaves attached.
