Shallots just sittng, not rooting!

[Welsh Wizard]

I have a tray of 36 shallots saved from last years crop that have been sat in cells to root in MPC for about 3 weeks on a 15 degree C north facing windowsill. Only problem is: No roots have yet formed from the basal plate and some are now starting to mould from the basal plate up despite storing well over winter. I discarded the weaker shallots and ones that did not store, only good hard cloves were planted.

What is going wrong and how should I rescue them?

[Florence Fennel]

Hi WW - I planted some shallots in the ground about 3 weeks ago, and some in modules outside and they've all rooted and the ones in modules are just showing a green tip. I'm sorry, I don't know why yours are starting to rot, could it be too warm for them? I'm sure an expert will be along soon to help you.

[Alison]

Mine took quite a while this year and I was starting to give up hope on them but then they suddenly remembered what to do and have now been planted out. Mind you, the mould bit doesn't sound very good news, not sure what you can do but maybe they're getting a bit over damp?

[Jeanied]

I think they need to be outside in the fresh air to be honest.

[Snadger]

You didn't have any white rot problems in the soil on the plot you took them from did you?

[Alison]

I think they need to be outside in the fresh air to be honest.

Hadn't noticed that they were inside, could well be a bit warm. I had mine in an unheated greenhouse before they were planted out.

[gorgeousgrower]

As far as I know shallots are the earliest of the onion family to go straight into the ground (Feb usually) except for those onions which have been overwintered of course.

I put mine into the ground mid Feb and I'm only just starting to see some shoots.

I'd get them outside straight into their final growing position if you can.

[solway cropper]

I set some away in bug tubs in the unheated greenhouse and the shoots are 3-4 inches long. The ones under cloches outside are still sulking.

That should read big tubs. I hope I don't have any bug tubs

[binley100]

My shallots have only just started to shoot. Well one has , fingers crossed that the others will be soon to follow.

[RobintheBobin]

I put my shallots in the ground before Christmas - they are about four/five inches tall and looking happy. I'd agree - get them in the ground.

[Welsh Wizard]

Many thanks for the suggestions: I will plonk them into their final positions outside tomorrow and see if they take. One has finally shown a wee green sprout so something may be happening at last, at least for one bulb! I would have put them out earlier but here in Germany we have only been free from snow for a few weeks and there have been so many plantings to do this time of year!

[bramble]

Hi Welsh Wizard, might they be too wet. That is sure to rot them if that's the case.
What the other grapes says is right, get them out and into the ground they are tough.

[jonohanson]

Ive never grown shallots before and decided to this year, planted them 3 weeks ago and each one has about 15 shoots coming from it, is this normal?

[stella]

jonohanson looks like you will have a good crop

[Shadylane]

Ive never grown shallots before and decided to this year, planted them 3 weeks ago and each one has about 15 shoots coming from it, is this normal?

I'd say it's odd simply because I'm not far from you and mine haven't shooted yet as it's still freezing - I remember last year they took a while to produce shoots but did well. It is normal for them to have multiple shoots cause they split into several bulbs - but yeah as stella says looks like you're in for a good un