how deep to plant garlic
Purchase bulbs from mail order suppliers, garden center, or other local source. Break bulbs apart at planting time, keeping papery husks on the individual cloves. Plant with tips up, 2 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart in rows 15 to 24 inches apart. Plant elephant garlic varieties about 3 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart. Mulch heavily after planting to prevent soil heaving - particularly with less-hardy elephant garlic varieties.
Only plant the largest cloves (you can use the smaller ones to cook with). Plant the garlic 2 inches in from the rim of the container, spacing the bulbs 5 inches apart in all directions. Use a piece of bamboo to make planting holes that are 3 inches deep. Plant one clove per hole, with the flat side down and the pointy end up. Backfill the hole with soil, making sure that the tip of the clove is about 1 inch below the surface. The garlic may sprout and then die back over the winter, but don't worry.