Whether you are trying to keep the vampires away, or the deer at bay, garlic is a great plant to grow mid-autumn. 

Garlic is an easy plant to grow in fall that can be done in backyard gardens.It's important to note that garlic should be planted 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes. Ideally, plants should begin growing before Thanksgiving - October is a safe time to start. 

Here are the steps required to grow garlic at home:

1. Loosen soil with a digging fork and spread 2-3 inches of organic matter over the area. Begin digging in!
2. Choose a variety of garlic to plant. The two main types are softneck and hardnecks; however, softnecks produce more garlic cloves and last longer during the harvest period. 
3. Break off the garlic bulb and plant the biggest cloves with root-side down. Leave 4-8 inches of space between garlic cloves in all directions.
4. Add fertilizer at least once per month and plenty of water. Garlic is forgiving to lack of water; but the plant doesn't like to dry out. If the soil feels dry, it may be time to add H2o.
5. Harvest garlic in late spring or early summer when plants have 5-6 green leaves with more than one of them turning brown in color. 

Garlic needs a lot of full sun, but it might tolerate partial shade provided it's not for very long during the day or growing season. Garlic is one type of deer-resistant plants to grow that can be used in a variety of dishes year-round. It is always a great plant to keep on-hand at home.