Shallots gone to seed

[Jimmy]

Thought I would try shallots instead of onions this year.
Bought a bag and got them in a raised bed early in the year.
I have left them to their own devices up to now.
But looking at them it seems most have gone to seed!
Will they be usable?
Dis-chuffed Jimmy

[nickdub]

you can use them, but its likely some parts will be too hard - should be easy enough to tell if you try chopping them up - was probably cause by the hot, dry weather we had at one point in the Spring.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Alliums will bolt if stressed and being allowed to dry out will stress them. Raised beds can be difficult to keep moist. See where this is going? Shallots don't need a deep root run and grow very well at ground level where the soil generally stays moist or at least moreso than raised beds.

[mcdood]

I slipped up this year too and have had some shallots and onions bolt. We had a very dry spring (much unlike June) and I didn't expect to have to water in April, but I should have.

[Jimmy]

OK thanks, compost bin for the lot I think.
Will dig some up today and see if any are useable.
Jimmy

[Jimmy]

I bought them at a cheapo shop.
Would sets from a proper supplier be any less likely to bolt?
Jimmy

[Jay-ell]

We're they autumn sown or spring sown shallots?

I've had a few bolt. They'll still get used but won't store as long maybe. I'll chop up any I don't use straight away and freeze them.

Alternatively you could save the seeds and see if you can grow anything interesting.

[Mark_Riga]

Usually in a clump the odd one or 2 goes to seed but most of the bulbs as ok and the ones gone to seed just need the stork taking out. Not grown any this year but only usually use for pickling.