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Here are my efforts for this year.
I Got my Garlic from the Isle of Wight. Planted in late September. Harvested middle of July. Dried for a couple of weeks during the hot, dry spell then platted.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]38256[/ATTACH
Will be trying another method this year. Will plant in 3" pots in late September early October. Place in a cold greenhouse until Feb/March time then plant out.
let's see what happens then.
Instructions for platting Garlic.
THE*ART OF*PLAITING GARLIC*
You will*need:* 10 or*more bulbs*of*garlic*of*a*similar size with stem and*leaf*still*attached.* Raffia*or*string*and*secateurs.*
1. Select the two largest bulbs and hold them at the neck* of the bulbs, stalks downwards.**Save*any*smaller*bulbs until*the*end. 2. Cross the right hand bulb over the left so that the stems form a cross tight to* both necks. 3. Bring*the*now*right hand stem around*the*neck*of the*right hand bulb as tightly* as possible,*around the back*of the*bulb*and*over*between*the two*bulbs.* (The
stem should still end*up on*the*right hand*side). 4. Add the third*bulb onto*the right hand side ensuring*that the stem of the new
bulb is between the*other*two*stems. 5. Bring*the left hand stem over the middle stem so that it is now between what was the middle stem and the right hand*stem.* Make sure* that the stems are pulled*tightly*together. 6. Bring* the right hand stem over* the now middle stem so that it is the new middle stem.* Again, ensure that the stems are pulled as tightly together as possible. 7. Add the fourth bulb on the left hand side ensuring that the stem goes into the middle.* (There should now be two stems in the middle and one stem still either*side). 8. (Similar*to stages*5*and 6).**Bring the left hand*stem over*the*two*middle*stems
so that it is the new centre stem.* Then bring the right hand stem over* the middle*stem to*become the new*stem*in*the*centre. 9. Add the fifth bulb* onto the right hand side and repeat stages 4 and 6. (The
stem of the new bulb should always join the centre*stems whether*adding*the bulb onto*the*right or*left hand side). 10. Add the sixth*bulb*onto*the*left hand*side and*repeat stages 7 and*8.**(Note that when adding*a*new bulb,*they are added on alternate*sides.**A bulb*on*the*right
then on the left. The stems however are always plaited across from left to*
right). 11. Continue*plaiting the garlic, repeating*the relevant*stages,*until*all the*bulbs*are
added.* When all the bulbs are plaited in,*continue plaiting*just the stems for*a
few*times*(ie*left*stems across*middle*stems,*right stems*across*middle*stems). 12. Turn the plait over and tie raffia around the plaited stems twice and knot.* Bring*the two ends of the raffia together*about a thumbs distance away from
the plait, double knot together*and trim the ends. This should form a loop so*
that*your*beautiful*homemade*plait*can*be hung up*on*show*in*the*kitchen.
Enjoy.
I Got my Garlic from the Isle of Wight. Planted in late September. Harvested middle of July. Dried for a couple of weeks during the hot, dry spell then platted.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]38256[/ATTACH
Will be trying another method this year. Will plant in 3" pots in late September early October. Place in a cold greenhouse until Feb/March time then plant out.
let's see what happens then.
Instructions for platting Garlic.
THE*ART OF*PLAITING GARLIC*
You will*need:* 10 or*more bulbs*of*garlic*of*a*similar size with stem and*leaf*still*attached.* Raffia*or*string*and*secateurs.*
1. Select the two largest bulbs and hold them at the neck* of the bulbs, stalks downwards.**Save*any*smaller*bulbs until*the*end. 2. Cross the right hand bulb over the left so that the stems form a cross tight to* both necks. 3. Bring*the*now*right hand stem around*the*neck*of the*right hand bulb as tightly* as possible,*around the back*of the*bulb*and*over*between*the two*bulbs.* (The
stem should still end*up on*the*right hand*side). 4. Add the third*bulb onto*the right hand side ensuring*that the stem of the new
bulb is between the*other*two*stems. 5. Bring*the left hand stem over the middle stem so that it is now between what was the middle stem and the right hand*stem.* Make sure* that the stems are pulled*tightly*together. 6. Bring* the right hand stem over* the now middle stem so that it is the new middle stem.* Again, ensure that the stems are pulled as tightly together as possible. 7. Add the fourth bulb on the left hand side ensuring that the stem goes into the middle.* (There should now be two stems in the middle and one stem still either*side). 8. (Similar*to stages*5*and 6).**Bring the left hand*stem over*the*two*middle*stems
so that it is the new centre stem.* Then bring the right hand stem over* the middle*stem to*become the new*stem*in*the*centre. 9. Add the fifth bulb* onto the right hand side and repeat stages 4 and 6. (The
stem of the new bulb should always join the centre*stems whether*adding*the bulb onto*the*right or*left hand side). 10. Add the sixth*bulb*onto*the*left hand*side and*repeat stages 7 and*8.**(Note that when adding*a*new bulb,*they are added on alternate*sides.**A bulb*on*the*right
then on the left. The stems however are always plaited across from left to*
right). 11. Continue*plaiting the garlic, repeating*the relevant*stages,*until*all the*bulbs*are
added.* When all the bulbs are plaited in,*continue plaiting*just the stems for*a
few*times*(ie*left*stems across*middle*stems,*right stems*across*middle*stems). 12. Turn the plait over and tie raffia around the plaited stems twice and knot.* Bring*the two ends of the raffia together*about a thumbs distance away from
the plait, double knot together*and trim the ends. This should form a loop so*
that*your*beautiful*homemade*plait*can*be hung up*on*show*in*the*kitchen.
Enjoy.
