Garlic goes in the ground in autumn, not spring. In Ohio that means between October 1 and November 15 — roughly two to four weeks before the ground freezes hard.
Why the timing matters
Cloves need six to eight weeks of root growth before dormancy, but not enough warmth to push green shoots that winter will kill. Planted too early they sprout; too late and they go in without roots.
Depth and spacing
Two inches deep, pointed end up, six inches apart in rows a foot apart. Mulch with four inches of straw after the ground chills.