i usually plant a few cloves of the generic grocery shop garlic in my little garden. yes they need chill hours.

put some cloves in your fridge around September, you'll see them sprout, plant them, by late spring they'll be ready to harvest.

here's mine from a couple weeks ago.

After reading on the allium forum about the invasive nematodes that hit some of the northern garlic growing areas a few years ago, I quit using the grocery store garlic. Don't want to introduce those nematodes here.

Elephant garlic has had a bitter taste some years no matter how I cured it. All advice on how to prevent that would be welcome!

The garlic, especially the elephant garlic, has grown well in heavy, poorly draining soil.

Please keep us posted.

I try to plant two or three varieties, depending on what's available at Central Market or Whole Foods. October/November planting works best for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garlic info