Q:  When is the best time of year to plant garlic? Can I plant whole heads purchased at the grocery store?

A:  Garlic should be planted in early to late September in the Chicago region. Purchasing bulbs from the grocer that are not sold specifically for planting is not recommended as those varieties are not reliably winter hardy in our region. Garlic heads should be divided into the individual cloves for planting. Use the larger, outer cloves for best results.