Check the internet for How to Grow Garlic in pots. There are some good videos.

Hi - I've never had good results w/ garlic, tho I HAVE seen it growing nicely in someone's community garden bed here in St. Pete. I understand variety is very important - as some are better adapted to our high humidity/diseases. I've been told that grocery store bulbs are just not a good starter source & you need to buy bulbs especially for growing.Also - it's a Fall-planted crop. Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (http://www.southernexposure.com/) has some pertinent info about regional varieties - & I'll bet Floridata.com does as well... Here's what SESE sez: **CHARACTERISTICS: Softneck garlics are more domesticated and have evolved from hardneck garlics. They have lost the ability to produce topsets, hence the center of the bulb has a soft braidable neck. Softneck garlics are more productive, more widely adapted, have better storage quality, and are easier to grow than hardneck garlics, but they are slightly less cold hardy in extreme northern areas. Clove count per bulb is much higher but many varieties have small interior cloves. We have had yields (by weight) as high as 16 to 1, but 5 or 8 to 1 is more typical. There are two horticultural groups of softneck garlics: the artichoke type and the silverskin type. Artichoke types are the largest, most widely adapted, and most productive, typically with 3 to 5 layers of cloves that give the bulb a lumpy appearance. Silverskin types have smooth, usually white bulb scales. They produce the most uniform and attractive bulbs, and are therefore popular for braiding. Cloves tend to be held tightly in the bulb and do not separate as easily as those of the artichoke type. Silverskin types are popular in western and southern states, but they also perform well in eastern states. HARDINESS ZONES: Recommended for zones 3 to 9. ** HTH Here is a link that might be useful: more info @ SESE

Hello all - just checked in to see when the MTPS date is for this spring and saw the post on GARLIC - I have brought garlic to the swap the past two years. I have been growing it successfully for about 4 years. Mine is a hardneck, large cloved variety - don't know the specific name. I will bring more this year for those who want to try growing it. I grow all I need plus some for the year. The Hood River Garlic link from the above post is GREAT information on ways to use all that garlic - I am going to try making garlic powder right away! Thanks for posting it! I plant in the fall, and mine is sprouting now - does fine through the cold weather. I harvest around Sept. when the leaves start drying. I even let some go to flower, and dry the flowers for dried arrangements indoors. I'd love to try growing other varieties, so if anyone wants to bring some to trade at the swap this year, just let me know.

Garlic will be fine outside in that zone. It's fine outside in my zone too, just not in pots! I'm looking forward to the spring! Good luck zackey and if all can report back. Mine are in raised beds, I'll report back too. Do you know what varieties you are growing? I'm trying a hard neck and a soft neck that is hardy. I have grown others, and will grow different ones each season till i figure out what works best. Only two varieties this year. Killarney Red (Rocambole) Idaho Silver (Silverskin) Rocamboles These are the most widely known, hence the most widely grown of the hardneck garlics. They have a deeper, more full-bodied flavor than softnecks. Rocamboles produce large cloves which are easily peeled, making them preferred by chefs & food processors. Their loose skins however, give rise to their major disadvantage, a shorter storage life than most other varieties. By the end of January most Rocamboles show signs of dehydration or begin to sprout. Killarney Red Outstanding Rocambole from Idaho. Original source is unknown. Best producing Rocambole year after year. Better adapted to wet conditions than most others. Silverskin (Softneck - braidable) Sillverskin garlics are the type most often found on supermarket shelves due to their very long storage life. They are the highest yielding variety and do well in a wide range of climates, hot southern, wet maritime, and cold northern climates as well. Idaho Silver Original source unknown. Bulbs are a beautiful creamy silver color, good size and character. Reddish-pink cloves. Well adapted to northern interior climates with cold winters. Mild and sweet baked. Raw, starts slowly with the heat building to very hot.