Garlic

[thistlebloom]

I expect most of it to be coming up just before the first hard freeze of winter.

Well, that didn't go as planned. We've already had a few hard freezes and the garlic isn't up yet. We went from 60+ to hard freeze. I can only hope the garlic survived. I'm going to spot check a few today then mulch it with bedding from the chicken coop. Don't panic, it's mostly bedding with very little chicken manufactured additives

Different latitude here, but your garlic doesn't have to sprout before winter. Mine goes in before the end of October, and I mulch it after the first real hard frost, and it doesn't come up until spring. The important thing is the root growth before winter. At least that's my humble opinion.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

from what i've been reading Thistle is right. they need the time to get their roots down before the ground freezes. during the winter those roots will help hold them in the ground and depending on how strong they are will keep the bulb from heaving and possibly exposing itself to too much cold.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Mulching will help keep it from heaving in the frost too. That's the main reason you mulch strawberies.