by Big Guy » Sat Jul 23, 2011 2:35 am
The variety is "Fish Lake #4" I got it about 25 years ago from an old Polish guy who was on a mission to get people to grow garlic. Every year I select the biggest bulbs and keep them for seed. I've been improving the strain for 25 years. You need rich soil, lots of water and full sun. I plant in Oct and lay down a mulch of 8" of leaves. the garlic grows up through the leaves, the roots stay cool and moist, they keep the weeds out too. Once I harvest the garlic I till in the leaves and in Mid August I put a layer of chicken manure and straw on my beds, then till it in. I till again in Oct just before I plant.
I plant 30 rows with 15 plants in each row, so that works out to 450 plants,about 5 or 6 five gallon pails. I keep one for me , one for my kids, one for seed and sell the rest at a local grocery store. It goes quick.