Garlic

This has been the first time ever that I have had any success with garlic and I am very excited.

Months ago now I planted garlic bulbs - Purple Monaro and the bulbs of a locally produced garlic. Their bed was dosed with old sheep manure dragged out from under the shearing shed  and the patch was watered when it needed it with nettle tea made from the stinging nettle found about the property in places where previous sheep had camped. Some weeds are very useful!

The garlic grew and thickened and then, just the other day, I realised that the plants were flagging and not responding to water.  The lower leaves were browning off and the tops were yellowing - I decided to pull.

The bulbs have been sunning on various surfaces - on the deck and,

 on the garden bench.

Today I decided to plait them before their stems got too brittle.

It was the first time I have tried plaiting garlic  - really because I have never had any success with garlic before...

Here is the first plait on the left - a little bit loose isn't it, but things got better.

The second plait - next to the first one in the picture on the right is much tighter, and below - the third plait is even better! Yay for continuous improvement (except for the poor photography featuring the knees of the plaiter).

Finally, all 4 plaits, or rather 3 1/2, are done.

and now decorate the entrance to the house along with the Driza-bone, hat and gaiters, the garlic of course positioned to ward off any vampires that may be lurking in the Lower Snowy Mountains!

They will go somewhere airy and dark when they have dried properly in the meantime I feel like a proper peasant.