Garlic is one of the most forgiving crops a gardener can grow, and one of the few you plant as the rest of the garden is winding down.
Garlic cloves need several weeks of cool temperatures to trigger bulb formation.
The traditional advice is to plant garlic a few weeks before the ground freezes, often expressed as roughly four to six weeks before freeze-up.
Garlic comes in two main groups, and choosing the right one for your climate makes a real difference.
Buy seed garlic from a garden center, a seed company or a local grower.
Garlic needs full sun and loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
Break the heads apart just before planting.
Step-by-step advice, charts and free garden calculators at Garden Voila.