??? for Garlic Mavens in Re: Vernalization

 


    The grocery store garlic did O.K. although, the bulbs are a bit small.
After keeping it in the fridge at 35° (all temps are Fahrenheit) for a couple of
months, I planted it in early December , which means that we still had a long
warm period during which the garlic began growing apace. January brought several
successive days with overnight lows in the 20's and highs in the 40-to-50's. I
just looked at the calendar and longest period was 5 days and even then highs
ranged from 42-72.
    Down here, the duration of temperatures below 40 is measured in hours;
sometimes, hour;-) We occasionally have overnight lows in 30's as early as
Thanksgiving (late Nov.+) but daytime temps remain in 60-70's+. I've never
encountered soil temps below mid-50's. Although, approx. 7 miles distant as the
honeybee flies, the data from this site are representative:
<http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?refer=&sh437> . Notice the
temperature scale tab in URH. As you can see, average lows do not represent
winter as most of North America knows it.
    For this year, I've purchased a variety of "artichoke" garlic purported to
do well in the Gulf states' mild climate. It was mailed Tues. 31 Aug. Ideally,
it should arrive today or tomorrow.

The Questions:
    Refrigerator is a 35°, the freezer at -

hnjyu
(Damned Cat!) -5; which would the garlic find more agreeable for a couple of
months? Not that I can do anything about, it but what how does our on-off again
"cold" affect the development of the garlic? Would I do best to wait until
January or February to put the garlic into the ground instead of setting it in
December?
    I've found almost no information on the WWW that is pertinent to my
climate. "Experts" always assume the entire planet to enjoy a 4-season climate.
--
Any help appreciated,
the Balvenieman
USDA zone 9a/b, peninsular Florida, U.S.A.

 



 Maybe close enough .

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mv064

--
Bill  S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden
 
 

 




    Thanks; I have that link. It really is kinda generalized. For example:

Likewise, the Florida forum on Gardenweb does not address my issues, although, I
have yet to ask the specific question there.
    For no particular reason -- save for a "feeling" -- I'm leaning toward a
later planting date, although, it increases the risk of a rainy-season harvest.

OT:
    Any effects from Earl yet? Judging from news reports, he appears to've had
minimal effect on NC barrier islands. I guess the VAcapes are next.
--
Thanks again,
Derald

 



 Earl is about 200 miles away at about 85 mph down from 145 yesterday.
Still south of us.  Whew!  Right now it is gray with a constant low wind
maybe up to 15mph.  Told later around 5 Pm winds maybe gusting 45 and
some rain.  Lucky and  now I have all our potted plants close to our
front door.

  Big storm !

--
Bill  S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden
 
 

 



According to AccuWeather you should be getting rain anytime now and the
wind at 5PM will be around 17 mph. I presume that is an average, so you
could get gusts up to 45 mph. Good day to read a book or watch a movie
;O)
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/2/maude
http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2010/07/201072816515308172.html