Woven together

Drying harvested garlic and onions allows them to be stored without rotting. Plaiting the foliage while it is still pliable enables strings to be hung up neatly. Bulbs are graded by size, with any loose skins removed and the roots trimmed to approximately 1in (2.5cm). The largest three are placed at the bottom of the plait. The outer two are positioned slightly below the central one, facing in so their stems cross beneath the top stem. The bottom stem is brought up and bent back across the other two. It is then passed beneath the neck of its bulb and returned to its original position. This forms an anchor for the plait. The outer stems are then passed alternately into the middle of the other two, plaiting them together. Further bulbs are added into the centre and sides of the plait as it progresses by gathering their foliage in with the existing stems. Once the plait is complete, the end is secured with twine. Tying in this allows the garlic or onions to be hung up.