How to grow garlic (some suggestions):

• Plant  garlic during the month of October (or just before the ground may freeze) in areas that have cold winters.  You may want to plant later in warmer climates, since you do not want the leaves to grow until spring.
• Remove skins from the bulb (but not the individual cloves) and split  the cloves from the bulb (a process called popping) just prior to planting.  This tells the clove that it is time to sprout roots.
• Plant the best cloves.  The larger the clove, the larger the bulb will be next year.  Avoid planting damaged or double cloves (when two cloves are joined at the base).
• Plant cloves in prepared garden soil at a depth of 3 inches and about 6 inches apart in the row.  Cover level with soil.  Rows should be 6-9 inches apart.
• Place approximately 3-6 inches of mulch over the planted cloves.  In cold areas, this will slow down changes in the ground temperature.  In dry areas, this will hold the moisture in the soil.  We use a  grass hay because that has worked best for us.
• Plants began to emerge from the soil and mulch in March here.  If you don't see any sprouts, check below the mulch.  Some mulches are difficult for the plants to grow through so you may need to open the mulch up where the cloves were planted, but leave it on between the rows.  Remove sick plants as necessary.
• In the summer, remove seed heads from the hardneck varieties when the stems uncurl and become straight.
• You want to stop watering about 2-3 weeks before harvest.  In our climate, we stop watering around the beginning of July.  
• Harvest in July in most years.  You know when to harvest by the number of green leaves left on the plant.  We harvest when there are only 6 green leaves left.  Harvest dates vary depending on how wet/dry the year has been.  Also different varieties are ready at different times.
• Dry the whole plant, out of direct sunlight.  Where there is good air circulation.  Plants can be hung or placed on a shelf made of chicken wire.  It takes approximately 3 weeks to dry.   
• Cut the dry bulbs from the stems and cut the roots off close to the bulb.  Clean loose skins and soil from the bulbs using a soft bristled toothbrush.
• Store in an area out of direct sunlight at approximately 60-65degrees F. Do not store in plastic bags and do not store in the refrigerator.  We store in a wicker basket in a cupboard.
• We recommend preparing the soil, using lots of organic amendments and fertilizer several weeks or more before planting. This will allow beneficial soil organisms to increase.