As winter finally begins to lose its grip on our gardens and countryside, it's easy to forget that for many plants, the harsh months ahead are not just a time of dormancy but also a crucial period of preparation. The chill factor is real, and for those who are willing to weather the cold, it can be a game-changer.
The science behind this phenomenon lies in vernalisation - a process by which certain plants develop optimal growth patterns when exposed to prolonged periods of cool temperatures. It's a vital step for many crops, from apples to garlic, that require a specific number of hours below a certain temperature threshold to bloom and produce fruit.
Take apples, for example. The ideal chill requirement is anywhere between 700 and 1,000 hours below 6C (43F). This means that if you live in the UK, your apple trees need to endure the harsh winter months to develop properly. But plant breeders are working tirelessly to develop varieties that can thrive in warmer climates by reducing this chill requirement.
Garlic is another crop that relies on vernalisation to produce its signature cloves. When exposed to cold temperatures below 6C for around eight weeks, garlic seed cloves begin to multiply and form new cloves as the plant grows. For those who don't live in areas with prolonged winter periods, there's a clever hack: simply storing your garlic seed in a paper bag in the fridge to replicate this process.
For seed savers, vernalisation is a crucial step in replenishing their stock of biennial crops like carrots, beetroot, and parsley. These plants typically produce vegetative growth in their first season, but if they don't make it through winter, they won't be able to flower and produce seeds. However, by giving them the right amount of chill, these plants can thrive and provide a bounty of fresh produce.
And then there's the bonus benefit for consumers - more palatable vegetables that have been exposed to cold temperatures before being picked. The breakdown of starch into sugars makes these veggies even more resistant to cell wall damage from frost, resulting in a more enjoyable eating experience.
So as we usher in the new season, let's not forget the importance of winter for our plants. With a little patience and understanding, even the chilliest of months can become a time of growth and renewal.
The science behind this phenomenon lies in vernalisation - a process by which certain plants develop optimal growth patterns when exposed to prolonged periods of cool temperatures. It's a vital step for many crops, from apples to garlic, that require a specific number of hours below a certain temperature threshold to bloom and produce fruit.
Take apples, for example. The ideal chill requirement is anywhere between 700 and 1,000 hours below 6C (43F). This means that if you live in the UK, your apple trees need to endure the harsh winter months to develop properly. But plant breeders are working tirelessly to develop varieties that can thrive in warmer climates by reducing this chill requirement.
Garlic is another crop that relies on vernalisation to produce its signature cloves. When exposed to cold temperatures below 6C for around eight weeks, garlic seed cloves begin to multiply and form new cloves as the plant grows. For those who don't live in areas with prolonged winter periods, there's a clever hack: simply storing your garlic seed in a paper bag in the fridge to replicate this process.
For seed savers, vernalisation is a crucial step in replenishing their stock of biennial crops like carrots, beetroot, and parsley. These plants typically produce vegetative growth in their first season, but if they don't make it through winter, they won't be able to flower and produce seeds. However, by giving them the right amount of chill, these plants can thrive and provide a bounty of fresh produce.
And then there's the bonus benefit for consumers - more palatable vegetables that have been exposed to cold temperatures before being picked. The breakdown of starch into sugars makes these veggies even more resistant to cell wall damage from frost, resulting in a more enjoyable eating experience.
So as we usher in the new season, let's not forget the importance of winter for our plants. With a little patience and understanding, even the chilliest of months can become a time of growth and renewal.
! WINTER IS LIKE, A BIG DEAL FOR PLANTS RIGHT? 
AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FREEZING THEM TO DEATH, BUT ACTUALLY HELPING THEM GET READY FOR SPRING 
! I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT - WITHOUT THAT COOL TEMPERATURE THRESHOLD, WE'D BE LUCKY IF OUR APPLES WERE MORE THAN A GARBAGE CAN DISTANT FROM THEIR FRESHNESS 
. AND GARLIC SEEDS? STORING THEM IN A PAPER BAG IN THE FRIDGE IS LIKE, TOTALLY GENIUS 
! IT'S LIKE THEY'RE SAYING, "HEY, WE KNOW WINTER MIGHT BE COLD, BUT WE'VE GOT THIS!" 
I'm loving this article about how winter is actually super beneficial for plants 
! Who knew that those harsh cold months could be a game-changer for crops like apples and garlic? 
The science behind vernalisation is so cool (get it, cool 
) - it's like they have their own built-in superpower to develop optimal growth patterns. And the hacks for seed savers are genius, using paper bags in the fridge to trick them into thinking it's winter 
Plus, who doesn't love the idea of getting more delicious veggies that are resistant to frost? 
I'm definitely going to try storing my garlic seeds in a bag next time - thanks for sharing this awesome info! 
. Like, they have this whole process called vernalisation where they just kinda wait for the cold to kick in and then BAM! They're all like "I'm a plant now, let me produce some fruit or veggies!" And we're just over here like "wait, how do I even make my plants happy?" 
. But seriously, can we talk about how weird it is that some veggies need cold temperatures to taste good? Like, I'm all for eating healthy but can't I just have a plain old carrot without having to chill it first 
?
... just kidding, sorta. Seriously though, it's awesome that we're getting to learn about vernalisation and how some plants actually need the cold to thrive. Like, who knew apples needed 700+ hours below 6C? That's like me needing a whole lot of coffee to function 
. And garlic seedlings just chill (pun intended) in a paper bag in the fridge? Genius hack, right? For those who don't have all day to wait for their veggies to mature, it's cool that we can trick them into growing faster with some TLC. Plus, the end result is more palatable veggies that don't get all mushy when you cook 'em 
. I mean think about it, apples need at least 700 hours below 6C to even bloom - that's like going through an entire winter and then just chillin' all year round 
. So yeah, let's give winter some love (and chill) this season 
.
apples, garlic, carrots... they're all like "give me the chill factor and I'll produce some awesome stuff" 
But seriously, have you ever noticed how plants are basically just super hard to grow? Like, apples need 700+ hours below 6C to bloom? That's like, totally cold 
Anyway, this vernalisation thing is pretty cool. I never knew that plants needed cold temps to get ready for spring. My apple tree in my backyard has been doing pretty well with all the chill hours it's gotten lately... fingers crossed it produces some delicious apples this year!