Getting back to garlic, Jeanne, if you bought the bulbs at a regular grocery store, they would be a softneck garlic type. They usually don't grow well to produce bulbs in northern climates like Iowa (or here in Minnesota). But they do grow. It will be fun to just try them for fun in the garden, but don't expect much. Hardneck type garlics do very well in northern climates, but you will only find them for sale (for eating) at some coops or specialty stores, and they are usually labeled as hardneck garlic. Lots of good places to buy hardneck garlic types from "seed" companies like Territorial Seed or Irish Eyes. As was said, the time to plant garlic for production is in early fall. In Minneapolis, I plant the last week of September. But they will grow if you plant them in the spring.
Myself, I would find better use of the garlic you have now by eating the greens. They have a different mix of vitamins, antioxidants and other good stuffs than the bulbs, and impart a different nuance of flavor to your food. If onions I buy at the grocery store sprout, I see that as a plus, too, for the same reasons. On the other hand, testing and experimenting is half the fun, so do what you like!
