How to weave a bow into braids for storage: step by step diagrams with photos and videos

Onions are an integral part of many people's daily menu. A vegetable should always be at hand.

The root crop is harvested for the future for the winter period, and it can be stored in different ways. The most practical and beautiful is weaving onion braids. To create them, each bulb is carefully dried and combined into bunches.

There are several options for how to braid a bow for storage. The finished bunch is fixed with a tourniquet, which is tied into a knot and root crops are hung from the ceiling or wall for it. Place onion scythes both in storage and in the kitchen.

Optimal timing for weaving

Onions ripen 63-83 days after planting. Braid weaving is used only for mature specimens. One of the first signs of vegetable ripening is yellowing and drying of the lower feathers. When the onion is ripe, it is necessary to start harvesting. Dig up the vegetable carefully so as not to damage the root crop. The feathers should be saved as they are used to tie the bulbs together for drying and storage.

In warm sunny weather, the harvested crop is left to dry right on the beds, but if it suddenly rains and becomes damp, there is a risk of damage to the crop.

Special attention should be paid to the safety of tops. Only if it is available and properly prepared for storage, weaving can begin. When harvesting, it is recommended to ensure the safety of the entire length of the tails. Too long feathers are cut off, leaving 12 cm for weaving.

Preparing bulbs

In order to be able to store onions in braids throughout the winter, you need to responsibly approach the preparation of the harvest. The duration of its storage and taste qualities depend on the correct processing of the onion.

The harvested crop must be cleaned of soil residues and laid out on any material to dry in a well-ventilated and dry place. An oilcloth or bedspread is suitable for this purpose.

You need to dry the plant until the tops begin to dry out. It is important to dry the feathers a little, but at the same time maintain their elasticity. Overdried ponytails are fragile and crumble. The method of storing onions in bundles can only be used if the elasticity of the leaves is preserved.

Drying takes 5-7 days. At the end of the procedure, the crop is placed under the sun's rays, but not for long, so that the bulbs do not become bare and the tops do not dry out. Sometimes drying takes 2-3 days depending on the air temperature.

After that, the bow needs to be sorted out, the spoiled specimens removed and the heads sorted by size. It is recommended to remove the excess husk and trim the roots a little. This will make the braid look prettier.

Popular ways of weaving onion braids

Storage and drying of onions in braids has been carried out for a long time. This is a time-tested method that has its advantages.

In braids, the bow takes up less space. In suspended form, it is inaccessible to pests and rodents. This method is also suitable for drying. Over the years, several ways of weaving onion braids have been formed.

The braid must be woven only from bulbs of the same size.

Option 1

Because the weight of the braid is quite large, it is necessary to use a rope to fasten it. You can take twine, ribbon, bandage or nylon cord. Then you need to decide on what pattern to knit a bow in a braid.

For the first method, you need to choose the bulb with the longest feathers, tie the tail to the rope of the desired length so that 3 edges are formed - 2 from the rope and 1 from the tops. The last one should be in the middle.

Then you need to weave a braid of onions according to the principle of a simple braid, only with each capture on both sides you need to add one onion head. It is necessary to interweave them tightly enough to securely fix the heads. Weaving continues until 10 cm of rope remains to the top of the braid. A strong loop is tied from the remaining ends.

Option 2

I have been weaving a pigtail out of onions in this way for more than one year. The cord must be folded in half, tie the ends on one side, and make a loop on the other.

The rope is fixed on a hook or nail for more convenient work. As in the previous version, it is recommended to choose the first bulb with a long feather. It is tied in a loop, and the remaining tail is passed between the two sides of the cord, wrapping around each of its sides.

Then continue to work on the same principle, adding each bulb and wrapping the cord with feathers. The tips of the tops are brought out alternately from the opposite side (towards and away from themselves).

Option 3

For this option, several pairs of bulbs are first tied together. This is done carefully and at the same time firmly, but so that the tops remain intact. Then you need a rope folded in half.

One large head is tied to the cord in the middle. The tied pairs are placed between the ropes, alternating them so that each subsequent bulbs are turned in the opposite direction.

After the second pair, we tie the rope into a knot, fixing the finished section. Then we lay 4 onions again and knit a knot. So we continue until there is 10 cm of rope left. Onion braids tied in the last way are strong and attractive.

Onion braid storage conditions

The storage conditions of the bundle have the following criteria:

Only well-ventilated, dry rooms are suitable for their placement. The bow needs to "breathe".
Optimal storage temperature - +18… +20 °С.
Indoor humidity should not exceed 70%.

Given the recommended storage conditions, the braid can be hung in the kitchen, in the hallway or closet. The basement is not the best place to store onion bundles. There is a risk of root rot.