Jean is right you just planted them at the wrong time of year, garlic is like any other bulb you plant. Again like Jean said, if you live up here over to the north planting time for spring emerging plants is in October or November if the bulb you are planting is hardy. It's a mistake anyone can make especially if you're a beginner in gardening or don't have experience with garlic or any other kind of bulbs. (Haha sounds like I'm in the Bulb Forum)

Are you in zone 11? That's pretty warm -- I've linked an article below about growing garlic in zones 7, 8 and 9. It needs some cold weather to develop properly, so you do plant in the fall or even as late as December in warmer zones. (in Northern Hemisphere, of course.) You'll also need to choose your variety carefully, as only some of them do well in warm climates (see the article).

I'd be interested to know if garlic works in zone 11 -- good luck with it!

Here is a link that might be useful: grow garlic in warm climates

John, check out the allium forum. You can scroll to the bottom and just search for articles/threads pertaining to garlic. Many over there appear to recommend organic methods in feeding their garlic also.

I've been told you can dig them up and replant them again in fall, but I've not tried that myself.

For a few few years I cut the green tops to eat in salads & stir fries like onions not knowing I was killing the bulbs. This will be our 1st year with garlic scapes soon & bulbs to harvest later since I figured that out.

Hi my name is Michelle and I have been trying to grow my own garlic the Californian kind I was told I could start it off in a container with some water which I did but only roots came out but the top never sprouted as a week went by I bought what I thought was organic since store bought garlic most likely won't grow I kno I can buy garlic at a nursery but I just don't know any names of some I live in Texas and want to start my garlic indoors but the tops just won't sprout