They are probably from China since a whole lot of garlic is coming from there. We have no idea what they use as a sprout deterrent but 9 out of 10 cloves I've purchased have a dark heart. Not good eating.

IMO ordering garlic to plant online is preferable but you may want to check farmers in your area that offer garlic at their farmers markets stands and plant those. They would be local and grown in the right climate you live in.

Nancy

A great reason to grow your own garlic is to ensure that it hasn't been treated with growth inhibitors, fungicides, insecticides and/or bleached with chlorine to make it look whiter. At a minimum, imported garlic has been treated with growth inhibitors and likely one or more of the others.

When did you plant it? That you are writing this message now, all garlic growing will die back around now.

I have never had a problem with grocery store garlic. I plant it all the time, and when the green turns straw color, I just hang the garlic in the shade to dry. No problem. Free garlic.

Better order you fall seed garlic pretty soon. A whole lot of sources are already sold out for 2014.

Check Portland OR craigslist for a great garlic seed source. :)