How to Cure and Braid Garlic

It’s summer and the garlic is on-and-poppin in our garden! We planted our garlic in the fall and harvested almost two weeks ago. This year I am curing and braiding our garlic. Braided garlic makes an amazing Gift, beautiful, delicious and useful!

Curing garlic is a two week process. Once garlic is ready to pick stop watering for at least 2 days before picking it. 

HOW TO TELL WHEN GARLIC IS READY

Look at your garlic’s stalk (neck), pick it when the bottom two leaves are dry, if more leaves are dry then you have waited too long and should pick your garlic asap!

It is important to pick your garlic at the right time to extend its shelf life after you cure it.
Cured garlic can last 3 to 10 months, depending on the variety. 

HOW TO CURE GARLIC

1. Pick your garlic and allow it to dry outside in a shady spot for 2 days.

2. On the second day brush the dirt of each bulb with a soft dry brush (do not use any water).
3. Be careful not to break the garlic peel, and set any broken garlic aside to use first.

4. Hang your garlic indoors for two weeks in a cool dark space such as a garage.

5. After two weeks cut the roots off and your garlic is cured!

HOW TO BRAID GARLIC

Follow the first three steps above, under “How to Cure Garlic.”

1. Hang the garlic for one week instead of two weeks so that the garlic stalks are soft enough to braid.

2. Tie the base of three garlic bulbs together with twine.

3. Braid a new garlic stem to the outer left garlic stalk and braid both garlic stems toward middle, 4. 4. Repeat on right side and continue this pattern until all your garlic bulbs are braided in.

5. Braid the stems, form a loop, and secure with twine.

6. Hang for another week in a cool dark (garage) place to finish the curing process.

Congratulations you now have a beautiful and useful kitchen decor!

Your friends and family will be amazed. 

Enjoy!