This gives the plant time to develope a sound root system and usually a tiny short green shoot. But not enough time to grow any leaves. Properly mulched hardnecked garlic can survive bitterly cold winters underground, when the snow cover is good. Where winter is milder, garlic is usually planted anytime from October through January. When winters are mild garlic grows hardy leaves that can withstand the colder periods.
Growth is slow during the colder winter season.
The cold temperatures are required for the side buds to begin to grow. These tiny buds will develope into new cloves. When the daytime light lengthens these buds will begin to grow faster. The plant begins to grow rapidly when the ground temperature warms up in spring. Where winters are harsh and cold and the snow cover is so unreliable that garlic freezes, plant soft-necked varieties in the spring after the danger of hard freezing has passed.