Allotments 4 All

I've just made a reasonable job of plaiting my garlic, thanks to a you-tube video, but it was quite muddy and I wasn't sure how many layers I could take off to make it look better without it damaging the bulbs. What does anyone else do?

I use this:
http://www.bloomingfieldsfarm.com/garbrdhow.html
it's worked for the last 9 years or so!

I'll bookmark that for next year, Anne, thanks. Softening the stems sounds like a good idea!