West Leechburg's 'accidental' garlic grower has been at it for half-century

West Leechburg’s Jack Froncek doesn’t let the grass grow under his feet.

He prefers garlic.

Froncek, 94, has been growing garlic at his Giron Street residence for 50 years. He said he got his start in garlic growing by accident.

After noticing a large dirt excavation project near his home 50 years ago while driving home from a funeral, he said he stopped to ask if he could have some of the dirt to start a garden. A crewman delivered soil to Froncek’s backyard, and a while later garlic began growing.

“My grandfather didn’t know the soil was full of garlic from Italy,” granddaughter Brandy Fabry said.

Froncek has lived on his own since November after the death of his beloved wife of 69 years, Mary. A World War II veteran, Froncek grew up in Vandergrift and dropped out of school to enlist in the Merchant Marines at 17. He is retired from Allegheny Ludlum in Brackenridge, where he worked in the open hearth.

“I give it to whoever wants it,” Froncek said of his garlic.

Froncek cooks with garlic daily, and shrimp scampi is his preferred meal.

“I eat a little bit every day. I put it in anything. I eat it with scrambled eggs,” Froncek said.

He credits his garlic as a key contributor to his overall good health. “It has something; I don’t know what,” he said.

Fabry said she shares her love of garlic with her grandfather, and they garden together. They pulled more than 1,000 garlic bulbs from two backyard garden patches this season. Planting happens in October, and the garlic bulbs are harvested July 15.

Froncek said he keeps a few of the biggest bulbs each season to plant the next season.

Froncek said the soil delivery from 50 years ago has been the gift that keeps on giving.

“It’s a tradition for us,” Fabry said. “He tells me I’m his favorite granddaughter … but I’m his only granddaughter.”