Winter wheats require several weeks at low temperature to flower. This process called vernalization is controlled mainly by a pair of genes, VRN1 and VRN2. The present invention includes the sequences of the VRN1 and VRN2 genes, proteins and promoter regions, transgenic plants containing the genes and/or promoters and uses of the foregoing. Of particular interest are temperate cereals with modified vernalization responses or flowering times.