From: songbird@anthive.com   
      
   T wrote:   
   >T wrote:   
   ...   
   >> That would be my favorite way.  Will the   
   >> mature plants make it through the ice   
   >> and snow?  I know bulbs in the ground will.   
   >   
   > Just don't water them until the spring?   
      
     spring bulbs will send out roots the   
   previous season as soon as they can get   
   going.  if it is dry they will wait for   
   the rains.   
      
     here they may start actively growing   
   any chance they get in the winter but   
   even if they don't when the spring comes   
   around and the warmer weather and some   
   rains they'll come up and start growing.   
      
     you mention that you are waiting for   
   all the leaves to die back before lifting   
   the garlic, but you shouldn't let it go   
   that long as the tunics (wrappings around   
   the bulb) may not be in the best condition   
   if you wait that long.  you should instead   
   lift it when about half the leaves are   
   going brown and finish curing it above   
   ground.   
      
     my garlic here isn't even close to being   
   done yet, not much sun and too much rain   
   i don't think there are scapes yet or they   
   may just now be starting to form.   
      
     in the clay here i have to lift them   
   or the tunics get discolored.   
      
     i have however, many places where garlic   
   just grows and i don't touch it at all.   
   so in case my main plantings go bad i have   
   a backup source to start over again.  it's   
   also what i did up and eat when i want   
   some green garlic.   
      
      
     songbird   
      
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