We had grown garlic on again off again for a few years, with moderate success. Then, a few years back, I spied some locally grown garlic at the farmers market. Nice big healthy bulbs, and I figured that if it was grown five miles from my house and it looks this good, it must be a variety well suited to this climate and conditions. I took em home, broke em up and planted the largest, fattest, healthiest cloves.
Its been going great for four years now. I get huge, fat bulbs, really truly great stuff. I always follow the same routine: Dig it up as the tops brown (too late and the bulb wrappers are shot), set aside the very best cloves as 'seed' for the next crop, and eat all the smaller cloves. I plant in late sept/early oct and it grows great.
I have no idea what this stuff is. I just figured it must be suited to this climate, and it is.