Every year Columbus day is when I plant garlic to harvest the following summer. It was explained to me that in the cool days and cold nights of fall a garlic clove establishes a little root system that will become dormant "in the deep midwinter", and the roots will emerge from dormancy in the spring... about the same time as the frogs.
I saved the bulbs of my most robust garlic plants this past summer, aiming for 50 cloves each of two varieties Zemo and Italian Red.
After planting I will mulch with pine needles.
Hold this moment forever, I tell myself; it may never come again. -- Pico Iyer, Autumn Light: Japan's Season of Fire and Farewells.