Shallot Recommendation Please.

[ginger ninger]

I hope I've put this in the right place, I'm looking to grow some Shallots this season but my dilemma is do I go for French or Dutch, which have the best taste, has anyone got any recommendations, what have you found to be the best, I've grown lots of different veg in the past but I've not tried to grow Shallots before so any advice would be very much appreciated...Thanks in advance

[Two_Sheds]

Taste is subjective, and soil conditions are variable: so I'd suggest you try both. My shallots always grow better than my onions it seems, but I couldn't tell you what sort they are (whatever Wilko has in stock usually).
I get white rot though.

I ordered some from a "proper" seed merchant last year, and they were awful: half mouldy when they arrived.

[zazen999]

I usually pick up a few from greengrocers locally [making sure they are UK grown] and get them started in modules and transplant out as and when. My faves though are from a market stall in the South of France. Lovely long pretty and packed full of flavour.

[COMPOST CORNER]

I usually pick up a few from greengrocers locally [making sure they are UK grown] and get them started in modules and transplant out as and when. My faves though are from a market stall in the South of France. Lovely long pretty and packed full of flavour.

Does this mean I can plant shallots sold for cooking? I thought they would just go to seed if I tried this.

[zazen999]

Does this mean I can plant shallots sold for cooking? I thought they would just go to seed if I tried this.

Well, I do. Shallots are multiplier onions; the odd few go to seed but why pay £5 for 5 in garden centres when you can get the odd few or a bag from the greengrocers - eat half and grow the others on? I got 16 big shallots, grown in Lincs, for 97p. We ate half, and the rest went into root trainers [only just, they were quite fat] for planting out in the spring.

Banana shallots of course are different; they don't multiply but DO go to seed. What I'd do with those is to collect the seed and resow.

[Two_Sheds]

Banana shallots ... don't multiply but DO go to seed.

Mine didn't, they just sat there for months sulking, then rotted

[zazen999]

Mine didn't, they just sat there for months sulking, then rotted

What you need is some thick clay

[Two_Sheds]

I've got thick ... what I need is some clay

[ginger ninger]

So it sound's like I should buy some from the green grocers, eat half of them, plant the other and hope they don't rot...Mmmmmm. I think I'll give this some more thought .
And regarding Thick.....he's just gone to the shops
Thanks everyone.

[ladylottie]

I hope I've put this in the right place, I'm looking to grow some Shallots this season but my dilemma is do I go for French or Dutch, which have the best taste, has anyone got any recommendations, what have you found to be the best, I've grown lots of different veg in the past but I've not tried to grow Shallots before so any advice would be very much appreciated...Thanks in advance

Last year I bought three 500g packs of "Golden Gourmet" and one 500g pack of "Red Sun" Shallots from Wilkinsons (cost £1.25 each 500g pack). I just planted them straight in the ground and had loads of shallots but they were a bit small. This year I will get some more from Wilkinsons but have ordered some "Jermor" from Thompson & Morgan
(500g at a cost of £4.99) to try. Hope they do very well at that price!

[gojiberry]

The old fashioned way is to sort your harvest and keep enough medium sized shallots for planting next year. That way you never need to buy sets after the initial year. I have about 60 sets to go in from last year and they haven't cost me anything except time.

Ian

[ginger ninger]

Funny you should say that ladylottie, I've just got the T&M new Catalogue in the post just now, I like the look of the "PESANDOR" its a French Shallot, but I think I'm going to have a look in Wilkinsons...£4.99 V £1.50 ish..I know where my moneys going, that way if I fail I won't be as peed off.

[sarraceniac]

Funny you should say that ladylottie, I've just got the T&M new Catalogue in the post just now, I like the look of the "PESANDOR" its a French Shallot, but I think I'm going to have a look in Wilkinsons...£4.99 V £1.50 ish..I know where my moneys going, that way if I fail I won't be as peed off.

A word of warning GN. I missed putting seed in last year and saw some sets at Wilko's which looked healthy and cheap. Cheap was the word and so was the performance. Very disappointing and their red onions were even worse. It certainly spurred me on with the seed this year. And I'm usually a fan of Wilko's.

[zazen999]

Funny you should say that ladylottie, I've just got the T&M new Catalogue in the post just now, I like the look of the "PESANDOR" its a French Shallot, but I think I'm going to have a look in Wilkinsons...£4.99 V £1.50 ish..I know where my moneys going, that way if I fail I won't be as peed off.

I saw these yesterday in mine and they resemble the ones I bought in the French Market. Bough 5 and 3 made babies [the others weren't happy in the UK mud]; and got about 8-10 from each; and have eaten quite a few and sown a fair amount for next year.

Once you have shallots; you should be keeping back some every year for the next sowing - you should only have to buy once. Then you end up with a type that likes your conditions.

[realfood]

Banana shallots sold for eating, have frequently been treated with growth suppressant to stop them sprouting and extend their shelf life. That is why they frequently will not grow.