What type of garlic are you growing, Richard? I take it they have good sized bulbils.
I suspect anything that sprouted here in late summer would have a hard time surviving the winter - but I could be wrong. Maybe this is exactly what I should try, too....
I have noticed that small bulbs that were missed in the field (dried down early) have no trouble surviving the winter. Same for some extras that I may have tossed in the compost... they came back as volunteers.
Meanwhile Tg is in Oregon so this is good news for him, for the milder climate.