Planting non-set shallots?

[endymion]

I bought a few pounds of lovely shallots from the greengrocers and wondered if they could be used as sets?

They're a lovely round shape, and quite big, perhaps 2 inches tall.

[Two_Sheds]

If they're fully grown, all they'll do is bolt (but you could save the seed: however, I've never got shop ones to seed, they just sit in the soil doing nothing until they rot).

Sets are partially grown ones, stopped at a small size, then replanted to mature, and small ones are better than big ones

[Aberdeenplotter]

no particular rreason that they shouldn't grow when planted unless they have been treated with a growth retardent which is quite common

[zazen999]

If they're fully grown, all they'll do is bolt (but you could save the seed: however, I've never got shop ones to seed, they just sit in the soil doing nothing until they rot).

Sets are partially grown ones, stopped at a small size, then replanted to mature, and small ones are better than big ones

That's onions. I've planted shallots from shops before loads of times and fully intend to continue!

[Two_Sheds]

I've planted shallots from shops before loads of times and fully intend to continue!

Where from? It's never worked for me

[rustylady]

Shallot "sets" are full sized shallots. They grow differently to onions, cos they form clumps of bulbs.

[zazen999]

Where from? It's never worked for me

Local greengrocer, sainsbury's, farmer's markets. I start them off in compost [I fill one of these with compost and plant one in each space], and then plant them out when they have a good root system. Loosen soil around them in the spring, give them a feed and away they go.

[Thelma Sanders]

I save some of this year's crop to plant next year

[Two_Sheds]

Local greengrocer, sainsbury's, ...plant them out when they have a good root system.

Right, I'm off out to get me some. I do it with garlic, so I should be able to succeed with shallots too right? I bought several bags of banana shallot earlier this year and tried it, but they just sat there in their pots, sulking. Didn't root, didn't shoot, didn't do nuffin

I save some of this year's crop to plant next year

Didn't get any this year

Alliums really don't like my (sandy) soil, none of them ever come to much

[Thelma Sanders]

I think banana shallots are the ones that don't grow into clumps, only making a single bulb like an onion does?

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ets_28032.html




(edit to fix link I hope)

[bearded bloke]

I think banana shallots are the ones that don't grow into clumps, only making a single bulb like an onion does?

According to Marshall's catalogue on page 12 .........

The shallots do not increase in size but quickly start to grow and form a cluster of bulbs to harvest next summer

Originally posted in .......http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ion_60758.html

[realfood]

Some shop bought shallots have been treated with chemicals to prevent them sprouting, and yes if they have been treated, they just rot as I have found to my cost.

[endymion]

Okay, thanks. The consensus seems to be that they're okay to use as sets.

Sorry, but that leads to some more questions.

Logic tells me to plant the biggest ones, because they'll make the strongest plants, but I've read in quite a few places online that planting big shallots makes lots of smaller ones grow, and planting small shallots means a crop of fewer, bigger, ones. But I can't find any pictures or anybody actually saying it's happened with their shallots, so does anybody have any experience of this please?

And, as I don't know the variety, and haven't a clue whether they should 'overwinter' in the ground or not, when do you think would be the best time to plant them? By that I mean, should they be planted now(ish) or should we store them until, say, February or March next year?

They aren't supermarket treated ones, so hopefully they'll grow okay.

[nellie-m]

Hi Thelma, as far as I know banana shallots are crosses between onion and shallot (called echalions in French: echalotes + onions = echalions). They are grown from seeds, like onions, and the supermarket ones I bought and planted this spring never grew :-(

[Thelma Sanders]

at least someone agrees with me, nellie-m