shallots plant now harvest when?

[vicki lorraine]

As a newbie i purchased some white and red shallots from Wilkos at the weekend for just a pound per bag. It says to plant them in March and they will be ready in Sept /Oct. Does this mean Sept/oct this year or next. I thought the usual was plant on the longest day and harvest on the shortest day. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Any tips on planting and care welcome.

[pigletwillie]

Plant them when your ground is workable in March or even April if cold and very wet.

You can tell when they are ready to harvest as the leaves will flop over and start to go brown as they dry.This will be indeed August or September of THIS year. Once this happens you can just ease them up and either leave them on the ground to dry or lay them out in a dry shed to do the same.

[vicki lorraine]

thanks pw. Couldnt understand that they would grow and mature in such a short time. Compared to winter planting. Great news though. Are these suitable for pickling when they are dry?

[pigletwillie]

Oh yes Vicki, all of the smaller ones that I harvest go to be made into pickled onions whilst the largest go foe kitchen use.

[nick the grief]

Historically it was plant on the shortest day harvest on the longest but that depends on the variety some you can't plant till around March.

I planted mine (Hative de Niort) into 15 cell packs around new year and the are just starting to show green shoots but they are well and truly anchored into the compost.