Order seed garlic (cloves) from a catalog in July or August for fall planting. This has never been a problem for me, however, and the upside is that it will likely be cheaper. With garlic, you are in it for the long haul; garlic takes five to eight months to mature. You want garlic bulbs to stay intact and have about two inches of roots. Larger bulbs should be ready to use in about four weeks but can often be stored for a few months.