[brownp]

Hi
I harvested my first garlic today - just one plant was impressed  with the result.
I asked a neighbour who advised me to cut the foilage off a few inches from the bulb and hang it in the garage to dry.
Would you all agree and how long would you expect to leave it (I know you can eat it wet).
Is this the same thing to do to store onions?
thanks

[DD.]

I never cut the foliage off until it's really dry.

I leave mine drying for weeks, just using it as I need until I finally trim them.

It's basically dry it, then dry some more. When you think it's dry, dry it again.

Same applies to onions.

However, if you're talking about winter grown ones, bear in mind that they are not good storers.

[brownp]

Both my garlic and onions were planted last November - are you saying that they won't store well?

Should I have planted garlic in spring to store over winter?

[Yorkie]

It's overwintered onions in particular that don't store well. 

[brownp]

Ahhh... that's new to me - how long on average should I expect to store them for ?

[shokkyy]

DD - when you hang garlic up to dry, is it ok to hang it in bunches or do they need to be separated? And do you wash them to get the mud off first? Mine have actually kept pretty well from last year, just going over now because they're sprouting. I did hang them up individually but I don't think that'll be possible this year because I grew more. I didn't wash them but did feel that made them look a bit grubby when dried.

[SUTTY1]

I dry/hang mine in bunches till october'ish. Then trim back the very dry leaves. Done this for years with no probs, got 4 bulbs left now and will probally lift this years in next 2 weeks, they a bit earlier than usual.

[DD.]

Ahhh... that's new to me - how long on average should I expect to store them for ?

I wouldn't bet on more than 2 or possibly 3 months, if you're lucky. They're just intended as a stop gap between your harvests of spring planted one.

[DD.]

DD - when you hang garlic up to dry, is it ok to hang it in bunches or do they need to be separated? And do you wash them to get the mud off first? Mine have actually kept pretty well from last year, just going over now because they're sprouting. I did hang them up individually but I don't think that'll be possible this year because I grew more. I didn't wash them but did feel that made them look a bit grubby when dried.

Mine are laid on the slatted staging of the greenhouse, mud and all and are virtually forgotten about for weeks.

When really, really, really dry the stalks are trimmed and mud is knocked off.

I store them in the greenhouse, on the slatted staging, upside down with the stalks downwards between the slats. I still have some from last year's harvest and it's just starting to shoot.

[Goldfinger]

Anyone here go on to plait (sp) them?? Then hang them up (like the French I think?  :blink:)

[DD.]

I really couldn't be errrrr - bothered.

[Goldfinger]

Thought I'd ask     

[DD.]

Besides, my garlic is "Music" a hard necked variety which wouldn't plait!

[Lardman]

Besides, my garlic is "Music" a hard necked variety which wouldn't plait!

Not with the necks but you can plait them with string - I did it.... once.

[DD.]

And that speaks volumes!