Shallot husks

[kris1960]

Snadger just mentioned breaking off shallot husks to give them more room- I haven't heard of this- how do you do it exactly?

[Jay-ell]

I've heard that scraping the soil from around the bulbs as they begin to swell helps them develop bigger bulbs but I've not heard about removing the husks.


I know that some showers peel their onions when they are still in the ground but I thought that was something to do with the visual presentation rather than the size.

[Jay-ell]

I was down the plot today and had a word with Snadger. By removing the dry dead skin you give the developing shallots the opportunity to spread out a bit and swell. You also let light and air into the bulbs which stops them going mouldy. I had a gander at his plants an the hands have opened up nicely.

I'm going to do this with my own shallots tomorrow.

[Jay-ell]

So yesterday just before I left I ran my finger around the top of a couple of bulbs and peeled away the dry skin and remnants of the old bul which was a bit squishy so that the individual new bulbs could be seen and that there was nothing holding them together.

Today when I went to the allotment these shallots had started to open out getting more space around each bulb. I treated the rest of the shallots the same and within a few hours the effect was noticeable with the hamds opening up a little.

Thanks to Snadger for the tip and to kris1960 for picking up the comment in the first place.

[kris1960]

So yesterday just before I left I ran my finger around the top of a couple of bulbs and peeled away the dry skin and remnants of the old bul which was a bit squishy so that the individual new bulbs could be seen and that there was nothing holding them together.

Today when I went to the allotment these shallots had started to open out getting more space around each bulb. I treated the rest of the shallots the same and within a few hours the effect was noticeable with the hamds opening up a little.

Thanks to Snadger for the tip and to kris1960 for picking up the comment in the first place.

Many thanks to you and Snadger, Have been away since Friday but will try it today- would a scalpel be the best tool for this?

[Jay-ell]

I just used my finger