I can only guess since I've grown garlic just once about 20 years ago. My guess would be that if you planted the garlic stored in the fridge directly into cold soil (if it was cold there?) then maybe it didn't wake up (warm up) enough before planting? My 2nd guess would be that the garlic you ordered was already in an early sprouting/tip stage upon arrival so it had a head start?

Have you dug any up to check yet?

Fair point about soil temperature. I read online that at 10C, at least southern garlic may take a month to pop up to the surface. At 20-30C, it can take a week or less. May be different for different varieties.

Stuff I ordered was not sprouted at all. Actually it looked bad, some was brown and soft I was happy any came up. My stuff was planted earlier and if anything it was warmer. Soil temp should not matter unless it is different for different garlic because the stuff that came up was planted about a week later. It is so weird that NONE of the stuff I saved came up and it looked great when I planted it. When I originally picked it I missed some and it is growing fine. I just checked again and more and more of the store bought is coming up and none of what I saved.

At first I think it could have froze in my fridge, but even that should not kill it but might delay it from sprouting. It was more than 1 clove, 2 or 3. I have not dug any up any yet because it seems pointless - I cannot really fix it now. I will soon, I just keep hoping:)

Also I note every year when I plant it and I have planted it later before I never noted when it came up but I am sure it was always up this long after planting. It has now been 31 days.

I do have 3 that barely sprouted (1/2"). Not sure why it took so long but I suspect they will come up in spring!