I tried growing garlic for the first time last year. I can’t find much information on growing garlic in Florida, but did read it’s harvested in May. Well, mine looks pretty bad and is not ready to harvest. I’ve had problems and made mistakes, but I’m going to start preparing now for another fall planting.

I planted 4 types last year. The first was a bulb purchased at the grocery store and planted late summer/early fall around my tomatoes. Those plants got moved to pots when I redid the beds over the winter. I also bought an Elephant Garlic. Three of the 4 cloves came up. Two are in their original spot and one was moved to another bed with 4 of those grocery store garlic. In the fall I ordered one pound each of ‘Music’ and ‘Legacy’. The ‘Legacy’ did the worst and most of them are gone at this point.

I’ve done lots of reading and research since then, trying to learn what to do to improve my garlic growing. I learned ‘Elephant Garlic’ is really a Leek. The ‘Legacy’ garlic is a Canadian grown garlic. It requires a colder winter and a cool spring. The ‘Music’ is a Porcelain-hardneck that likes cold weather and only has about a 50-50 chance in the south. Generally speaking, softnecks do better than hardnecks in the south, although there are exceptions. The ‘Creole’s are hardnecks that are said to do well in the south. I just bought the book “Growing Great Garlic” and I’m in the process of reading that, but it does not really cover hot weather garlic growing.

I’ve picked out a few varieties I’d like to try here in Central Florida. I’d like to hear from other garlic growers on what varieties do well in the south, especially if you live in Florida. (Peggy_G, earthworm77, ChrisD, – you guys growing any garlic?) What varieties grow well and store well in this hot humid environment?

The other problem I found with my garlic is the bed if FULL if tunnels in the soil. I’m pretty sure it’s moles. I’ll have to find a way to deal with that too.

Thanks, Michael

Hi Michael, here's a link to a Texan who grows garlic for southern gardens. garlic
Garlic doesn't like being moved. Seems that you have several issues. Moving, wrong varieties for your climate and moles. The book you got is a good one, enjoy! If you can find anybody growing good garlic in your area, buy some large bulbs from them as seed stock to plant this fall. It will improve your chances for success.

Thanks for the reply David,
I've been reading that site you posted the link to and several others. I was hoping someone from Florida or other hot weather area could give me their experiences with particular garlic varities.

From my reading and research, I've kind of narrowed it down to about 10...

Atrichoke
- Inchelium Red
- Lorz Italian
- Red Toch

Creole
- Ajo Rojo
- Burgandy
- Creole Red
- Cuban Purple

Marbled Purple Stripe
- Bogatyr
- Metechi
- Siberian

I'd like to buy a few of these varities and trade with someone for some of the other varities on the list.

I've heard that you can't grow hardneck in southern California, either, so I never tried. But softneck does very well here.

I have a stand of about 50 head of garlic...Elephant. I am kind of going back and forth on what it is doing and what it is supposed to be doing.

One thing I remember hearing about garlic in warm weather areas is that you need some cold weather. I'm not sure we get enough. My cloves were put in in late Nov.. They are about 3 ft high but I think should be larger. The stalks seem to be very thick but I haven't looked at the bulbs so I don't know if they are forming. I though scapes were popping up but now I'm not too sure.

A few things I know- Garlic likes compost but not too much water. Garlic doesn't like to be moved. Garlic hates competition so weed your patch with authority. I'm not sure May is the right month to harvest. I'm waiting for that 60-40 ratio and I'm not quite there yet. i just added a few inches of composted manure and the plants seem to like it.

Here is a picture of some of my transplanted garlic. The elephant garlic is to the left and there are 4 store bought garlic surrounding the rose bush.