A good end for my rubbish banana shallot crop?

[skell43]

After struggling with endless sowings of my £2 packet of banana shallot seeds , I have finally harvested today a HUGE crop of 1cm long banana shallots. I could make a stew for some fairies with them or thought I could ask if they are big enough to save for next year and plant out as sets. (Got some sets off my 84 year old pro gardener friend and had a great crop for free,not messing around with seeds next year but you have to try these things)

[Snadger]

Did you sow them a bit late then skell?

Mine are still growing strongly and are a decent size! (But you didn't really want to hear that, did you!))

[taff]

I used last years shallots as sets this year because they didn't get beyoind large pickled onion size last year. This year they made me onion size shallots, so yes, save them, use them as sets next year

[Shadylane]

Thought you could only grow banana shallots from seed not sets? They don't split do they? Or are you just wanting them to grow bigger?

[susieq100]

I did grow some from sets that did not do much last year - lifted them, dried them a bit and then re-planted them this year. They did split and I got a 'harvest'. One of the wise sages down the allotment site tells me that you can plant the shallots you have grown from seed, but they won't necessarily split. For me that is the whole point! Shallot sets are really expensive - it is only worth it IF you get lots of shallots!

[Aberdeenplotter]

I used last years shallots as sets this year because they didn't get beyoind large pickled onion size last year. This year they made me onion size shallots, so yes, save them, use them as sets next year

I agree with Taff

[realfood]

You need to sow the seed early in cells, Feb, and then you will get good sized shallots. The big advantage is that they rarely go to seed when grown this way and keep much better.

[skell43]

Thanks for the replies , will keep for sets and cross my fingers. I tried everything this year to grow from seed , tried the planting in loo rolls that was suggested , but no success. Sets seem so much easier! Started growing from seeds in March , got loads of chive like growth at first , but then it was really hard to keep them healthy after that. If sets are expensive I am going to have to charm my way into some freebies again!