How long does it take to dry Garlic and Onions

[Normans Mum]

Hi all
Lifted my garlic and onions about 2 weeks ago. They are in my shed drying- I'm using some delivery trays (the ones you see in bakerys) just wondering how long it takes before they dry out completely
Advice needed please.

[rustylady]

How long is a piece of string? Seriously though, a lot depends on the weather. Drying in a shed isn't ideal - if you get any decent weather get them outside in the sunshine and the wind. And do make sure wherever they are that they are in a single layer, not piled on top of each other.

[soladragon]

I just leave mine on a trampoline until all the leaves dry.

[kathyd]

We haven't had a single reliable dry day with sunshine so far this summer, so my onions and garlic are on wire hanging shelves in the polytunnel, and an old bird cage in the chicken shed! Can I ask a silly question? Why do they dry better lying down rather than hanging? It would be much simpler to string them up loosely in bunches, making sure they don't touch each other, and it'd take up so much less space...

[lottie dolly]

turn your bakers trays upside down,and lay the onions on top,that way the air circulates around,i did this last year under the staging in the greehouse,BUT,don't get water dripping through,i have plants on the top that are in watering trays,so nothing drips down,then sting up and hang em on a nail,last year i had 6 long strings hanging up,and all through the winter,even the freezing year before,all in the greehouse,and are just comming to the end of last years now,some were just laying on the wooden bench in the potting shed,i just turned them around when i go lottie,this years shallots and garlic had the top leaves cut of,and are drying beautifully,as last year i left the foliage on,and a lot rotted,so we will see if any different this year,

[horticultural_hobbit]

Mine are sat in the wendy house and the garage. Have yet to do anything with them. Have left them for a while. I am waiting for everything-foliage included-to go all raffia and paper like. Not too dry, mind, else I'll end up with shrivelled prune like things. Have given a few bulbs away already, but yet to actually consume any of it! All the harvested bulbs were left to dry for about a week, but I guess it does all take time.

[Florence Fennel]

Mine are on trays in the top of the stayput with the door open, drying nicely.

[Kaiya]

Mine are on the top shelf of my blowaway but the vine tomatoes are properly growing through that same shelf now which is probably going to make it too humid, as well as limit the onion space, so I need a new solution also. I also cut off all but about 6 inches of foliage, mostly because of lack of space on the shelf but also because I have an exceedingly silly cat, who would play with loose fronds if he could find them, and onions are toxic to cats.

I hung onions on the fence once. Earwigs moved in. Not pleasant.

I've never successfully dried anything before - onions rarely get the chance as we eat them too fast but my garlic harvest needs to dry...

[salome2001]

I have been putting mine in the greenhouse (still a renovation project left over from the derelict plot I inherited, growing only bindweed and thistles at the moment !), on wooden pallets, and both onions and garlic are drying very nicely

[Normans Mum]

Hmmm... all sounds interesting. Have tried some of the onions, very mild flavour but nice. : ) When I last looked and turned the garlic, it seemed to be drying nicely. Guess we shall have to wait and see.....