I am entering an onion rope for the state fair. But how do you braid one that can hang without adding any twine or string? Will it hang with another onion green tied around the top like a pony tail holder?

How about doubling back 2 of the leaf stalks and braid them into the braid as a little loop on top?

Well I practiced some braiding neatly yesterday and it just wasn't 'fair worthy'. I have done onion braids for years but not to be perfect. The braid looked sloppy and the onions weren't perfectly spaced and the looping back of the ends was okay but little ends stick out then. I have Wednesday morning to try again and then I have to drive to the fair to enter the stuff. But as you don't get back your veggies, I am only going to enter stuff I think I might win. So if the braid isn't right I won't enter it and I'll keep practicing.

You don't get them back??? I would cry if they kept my jumbo garlic bulbs at the fair. When I went back last year to pick up mine, I did see lots of veggies in the compost barrel. It makes sense really, not much can handle sitting around getting fondled for a week in the heat. Except bada$$ garlic

Could either of you recommend varieties of garlic or onions that braid well? I would really like to try braiding but I don't know much about onions and garlic.

No you don't get anything but the giant veggies back (non-edible). They don't want people eating the veggies if they are rotten or something. I am not bringing garlic because we can't spare 6 whole heads! That is the other thing, they require very large numbers of each thing: 10 potatoes, 25 cherry tomatoes, 25 beans, 6 zucchini, 6 leeks, 20 fingerlings, 3 melons etc! It is really hard to have those numbers in uniform size and maturity. Egads. Well I have a slight cold but I still might try a braid this afternoon and if it looks like crap I won't bring it. I bring stuff tonight. They say no one wins with tomatoes and cucs and the like if they are brought the night before but if I go in the morning it will be rush hour and I will have to pay to get in ($11), so I don't think so! Wish me luck!

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Originally posted by 3gardengirls:
Could either of you recommend varieties of garlic or onions that braid well? I would really like to try braiding but I don't know much about onions and garlic.

I know soft neck garlic is the one that braids (hard neck is obviously hard and can't be braided). As for onions any variety that doesn't get too large but still has a long top can be braided. For long storage pick varieties with low sugar that say they are for storage. Copra is a great storage onion and the smaller ones can be braided if the tops don't come off.

My onion braid was ok Wednesday night but when I got to the fair the bottom had unbraided. I suck at it! I didn't show it. The 3 that were entered were very nice and I see how they should look. Mine was fresh not dried so it would have been ridiculous. So maybe next year I will do better and start earlier. The prize is $25 to win!