General information and discussion about cultivating onions, garlic, shallots and leeks.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 494
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Or right side up? Does it matter?
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 1,836
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I do mine right side up because it's easy
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Southeastern PA
Posts: 1,420
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I lay mine flat on a wire mesh in an outdoor shed. I don't think that direction matters but what does matter is that it has good air circulation and it is kept out of direct sunlight which can change the flavor. Lots of humidity can cause mold too.
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#4 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: WV
Posts: 603
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The last ones I hung, molded because there wasn't enough air flow. |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Williamsburg VA Zone 7b
Posts: 1,110
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What's the best way - for a city dweller without a root cellar
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#6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 494
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I grow 2 varieties, Music and Burgundy. Music will not store anywhere near as well as Burgundy, so I save the best to replant and use that one up first. |
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 1,460
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My garlic lasted a year on my kitchen table and counter. I hung them to dry initially, then placed them in a fabric lined basket I picked up at Target or someplace similar. I would recommend trying something similar. I think the fabric absorbed any moisture and the basket let some air circulate. I don't live in a very hot or humid area and it worked great for me.
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 1,460
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Williamsburg VA Zone 7b
Posts: 1,110
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Thank you Sue!
Your pictures may be giant, but at least they are right side up! Mine are always on their side. |
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 494
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I don't know anyone in real life that grows garlic, so many hearty thanks to everyone on who posted. It's so nice to be able to talk to someone that's done this before. I ended up lashing them to my fence, you can't see all the bulbs, but you get the idea.
Cool pics, Sue, a year on the counter is pretty amazing. I usually store mine in a box in a closet. Some varieties are just troppers. Thanks again! Not much, but should last me a year and I had fun doing stringing them up. ![]() |
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,919
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Mine are hung right-side up in the basement with a fan on them until they are fully cured. Then I trim them, sort out my seedstock for next season, and hang the rest in mesh bags.
If they get to a point where they are starting to dry out, I'll slice and dry the cloves for garlic powder which one rung below fresh homegrown garlic, but still has much better flavor than supermarket fresh garlic. |
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2014
Location: illinois
Posts: 281
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Can only speak for the variety I grow. Plants are dried outdoors on wire racks which are elevated off the ground. They are loosly covered with cardboard and then tarped. Air flow is from the bottom up. The racks are on the north side of a storage building. There is room to dry indoors but ventilation is lacking. Usually 3 weeks dry time is enough. Bulbs are cleaned, necks trimmed and then placed in shallow crates to cure at 60-65 degrees.
I grow a few hundred lbs., virtually all is sold and used as next years seed. What is saved for personal use stays in excellent shape for 6-8 months. It then begins to lose weight, developes a green core and has a stronger taste. We still use it from harvest to harvest. The keys to long term storage is the variety grown, a slow dry down and curing at cooler temps. |
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