Look here: http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3024807/garlic-experiment-results?n=6 and http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3943934/another-year-of-florida-garlic-in-the-kitchen?n=12 

They are nice looking rounds. I would have thought that you would have vernalized in zone 8b. That is the trouble with the zone system. It doesn't really tell us what to expect for chill times. I would think that you could get away with the more usual 6-8 week chill cycle, but the only way to know for sure is to try it. Those rounds can be cured out, chilled, and put back in the ground this fall... or you could eat them and buy new seed. Creole garlics might also work for you without the chill. They are inherently more heat loving.

I know that there's a Creole variety called Cuban red. Does that mean it would be likely to do well in S FL? I can't imagine they get a lot of chill hours in Cuba.

Has anyone tried it?