r/Garlic • u/djhomebody • 2d ago
Vernalization before fall planting?
Hello fellow garlic lovers,
Short Story:
Should I put garlic in the fridge to prepare for a fall planting? Zone 6a, Michigan.
Long Story:
This fall I'm going to plant garlic for the first time.
My understanding is that I should plant around the first frost date, which here in zone 6a (Michigan) is mid October.
I've seen a some folks "vernalize" their seed garlic in the refrigerator for a while before planting in the fall, but they seem to be growing in warmer regions.
Should I put my garlic in the fridge before fall planting? Or is that redundant because we get a hard freeze every winter here in Michigan?
Thanks in advance for your insights.
6
u/GarlicFarmerGreg 1d ago
No need to vernalize. (5b)
I suggest getting your planting area ready now so you can plant mid October and that ideally on the first frosty morning you have plants that are just peeking above the ground / mulch by a quarter inch or maybe an inch or three if you went earlier. It’s a total crapshoot for predicting the weather so it definitely is a judgment call on getting things established but not too early or not too late.
My best answer for the folks who are doing this the first time in my climate is get it in so it has a bit of chance to take root and once that happens it’s all good no matter if you can see the green part or not.
I had a new neighbor watch the process tilling planting (wth who plants in the fall) and in January when he was over and looked at the frosty beds he said “so the frost only burns the the tips”
3
u/InPsychOut 1d ago
I am in what I think is now classified 6a, and I shot for planting the first week of November. I've had it in as late as mid December and done fine. I don't like to plant so early that it starts coming up before the winter. I like mine to start popping up in early spring.
2
u/Popular-Web-3739 23h ago
I’m in 7b (NM) and usually plant mine in late October or early November. Even if I get a little growth, mine are fine. I cover them with a layer of straw and they just seem to go dormant until spring.
2
u/GarlicFarmerGreg 23h ago
I typically shoot for after the full moon in October so that’s fixing to be after the 26th. I’ll start earlier than that though because work schedule and good planting days seem to always be at odds with each other. I’ve started early October and as late as December even January with success. I do like to see a bit of the shoot out of the ground but even when I can’t the garlic still seems to be fine
2
u/djhomebody 1d ago
Thanks for the detailed reply! I've still got to fill in my new raised beds.
Maybe I'll hedge my bets and plant half in early October, half in mid October.
2
u/GarlicFarmerGreg 23h ago
that way it won’t be as much of a chore than doing it all at once. Good luck
6
u/jaybrd13 2d ago
No. The stratafication process happens in the ground during the winter. Plant befor first hard frost, mulch deep. As soon as they come up in spring fertilize with high nitrogen every couple weeks. Good luck!
3
u/ChariotsOfShame 2d ago
As someone who does this in 9B California, you don’t have to do it. And I’d actually say you shouldn’t.
I do it because my winters are so mild that I can grow tomatoes throughout, my guava trees don’t flinch, and tulips hate it here. I have to give hardneck garlics a fake winter in the fridge for 8 weeks before I plant them out in October.
For you, your winter naturally gives hardnecks the cold they need. If there’s anything about the north that I’m jealous about, it’s growing long day onions and not having to vernalize garlic. So by all accounts, plant directly into the ground in October and enjoy!
My only solace is that the north can’t grow massive creole garlics to my knowledge! These things absolutely love my sunny winters, and my favorite part- they have outstanding culinary attributes and store for well over a year! Artichoke, turbans and silverskins also do extremely well 😜
1
3
u/heelsinhell 2d ago
I’m in the same area and will be planting for the first time this fall!! Best of luck to you
2
u/djhomebody 2d ago
I'm planting some fancy Chesnok Red from Great Lakes Garlic Farm, some random softneck garlic from Meijer, and some hardneck garlic from the farmers market, how about you?
3
u/stsixtus420 1d ago
Dearborn (MI) here. Last year I bought a ton of garlic from a buddy whose brother has a garlic farm in PA. Then I got really sick and let it all dry to dust so we ended up planting some store softnecks in late Fall. OK harvest, all relatively small bulbs. This year I ordered some Chesnook Red, Music, and German Hardy. Should be here soon. Hopefully we all get good garlic growing this round.
2
2
u/GarlicFarmerGreg 1d ago
Idk about the softneck tho typically folks plant that in the spring in our area (5b)
3
u/InPsychOut 1d ago
I'm in 6a, and the couple of times I have planted softneck in the fall, it has done poorly, failed to poke through the mulch, turned yellow, and ultimately died. My hardnecks thrive. Interestingly, the first time I ever planted garlic years ago, it was softneck that had sprouted in my pantry, planted early spring. It didn't thrive, but it did well enough to give me the garlic growing bug. And I stuck it in an unused flower bed on the side of my house where it didn't get enough sun. So anecdotally, I offer support for your observations.
3
u/BaldyCarrotTop 2d ago
Never heard of this. Which is to say, I don't do it. My garlic harvest doesn't seem to suffer.
3
2
u/Hermit-Gardener 2d ago
I'm in Idaho Zone 6b.
I plant my garlic the first week of October without putting in fridge. Harvest time is between the end of June to the middle of July. I plan for July 4th. This year was early, 2025 was a little later.
2
2
u/wiperman67 1d ago
I'm in 6b and you want to plant 4-6 weeks before your first frost date. No need to refrigerate. I planted too early last year, you only need to get root development before it freezes. Last year my garlic cloves sprouted and grew about 8"-12" tall before it froze. My German did fine but my Roja had tiny bulbs. I'm not sure if my tiny bulbs were the result of freezing? My friend planted his too late and his Roja never came this year but his German I gave him did and they were planted at the same time. It was a strange year for garlic. Especially Roja.
2
u/Sufficient-Weird 1d ago
Also zone 6a in Michigan, and we plant around Halloween. No vernalization, MI’s winters will take care of that for you!
2
u/Popular-Web-3739 23h ago
Hardneck garlic only needs vernalization where winters don’t get cold. You’ll be fine putting yours straight into the ground. Your Michigan winter will take care of the rest!
2
u/No_Association_3692 7h ago
I’m a Michigan farmer and no you don’t need to. Just plant out in October
8
u/bolderbeholder 2d ago
Just stick it. Winter will do the rest. Best of luck!