That 12-28-12 likely wasn't appropriate for any of those three crops you mentioned. Nor is anything in the OP for garlic.

Best IME is a blood meal then next best is a liquid organic like a 12-6-6. Products for lawns are engineered for turfgrass, not food. I just did my garlic in a liquid and maybe in 4 weeks I'll side dress with blood meal.

Keep the turf cr-- on the turf.

Dan

I'd have to agree with Dan... while it's true that garlic benefits from a little extra nitrogen, all of those mentioned would probably be too strong. Look to organic/natural products for a nitrogen boost. Cornmeal seems to work really well for garlic. Of course blood meal and fish emulsion are great too.

-Diggity

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Imperative

I figured I would get some heat from mentioning commercial fertilizer on here. But its all good. I would had used horse poo, but didnt have any rotted, Just fresh stinky stuff.

This is one of those instances where organic ferts. work great because the naturally low-N it provides.

You got heat for an inappropriate fert - one that is appropriate for turf - not because it was "commercial". And asparagus doesn't want that formulation except under exceptional circumstances, likely rarely do strawberries either. 46-0-0 is a recipe for disaster. Surely there are some handouts at work that explain this.

Dan

At work we apply the 46-0-0 when the grass is dormant in the fall to promote root growth and a strong color in the spring. Then we slow down the N considerably when the First treatment is applied. They also give us a ton of handouts at the workshops we have to attend every year to keep our license certified by the state. However, Im just certified in Turf and Ornanamentals. Gardening is just something I took on as a hobby.

Surely every fertilizer with a proper profile can be used successfully. If all you have is 46/0/0 (urea) you just apply very little. Yes, garlic is not a heavy feeder, and all it takes is a bit of urea right now. For 0.05 ounces per square foot, organic matter in the soil will buffer it adequately. I am going completely without because it is following corn, which did get plenty of 46/0/0.

I grow my garlic organically too.
But here is a site that may be what you want.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garlic/ Oregon State.edu

I've bought stock from these folks, and I like how they tell you to grow it. But good stuff in the jolj link too.

Dan

After using PK rich fertz for a while, probably you don't need them in the garden, especially the P. It is N that is depleted and used and needed often. So Urea (46-0-0) is a better choice, used sparingly, little bit at atime but more often.
I look into the color of garlic leaves: Are they pale green ? Then probably they need more N. Are they very dark green ? then prob.they are over fed with N. I am not an organic purist when it comes to fertilizing. I use a lot of composted material, leaves, wood ash etc. And supplement with commercial fertilizers. To plants it does not matter where the element "N" comes from, after all.