Shallots from seed advice

[Cutecumber]

I know a few of you have grown shallots from seed and I have a couple of questions for you...

I have some strong little seedlings in plugs and they need potting up. It seems a shame to thin them out, but I wonder if leaving them as a small clump (only two or three) will cause problems later on.

I am not growing for competition, so I am not worried about producing irregular shaped bulbs but is this the only problem I would be causing?

When I sow another batch I will make sure there is only one seed in each module, now I know the germination rate is good - what is a sensible planting distance once they are ready to transplant?

[Cutecumber]

Can anyone help, please?

[smallblueplanet]

Last year (?) when sowing PWs banana shallots we just treated them in the same way we did our onions from seed. We'll be doing the same this year with our 'cuisse de poulet' shallots. They're germinating in modules atm and won't be moved until they're planted out. Not how everyone else grows their onions and shallots, but we're lazy and it works for us.

As for transplanting them, why would that be a problem? Just put them in individual modules/pots or why can't leave them in a clump until you plant them out. You can even leave them in a clump when you plant them out and as they grow they'll force themselves apart.

[Cutecumber]

As for transplanting them, why would that be a problem? Just put them in individual modules/pots or why can't leave them in a clump until you plant them out. You can even leave them in a clump when you plant them out and as they grow they'll force themselves apart.

That's what I want to know - do they push each other properly or not? Normally, they are planted out singly when grown from seed but I need to know if that is done just to produce more aesthetically pleasing bulbs.

[smallblueplanet]

Thats what I said - they force themselves apart. Whether you think its 'properly' or not thats your perception. Are the bulbs are bigger if planted out single, dunno? Check out what Joy Larckom says about multi-sown onions.