Shallots Picking Storing

[craftymarie]

Checking my onion bed today I found some shallots just sitting on top of the soil. They just pulled away easy so no idea whether I should have picked them yet or not. The leaves flopped down weeks ago but the leaves are still mostly green.

Image shows all the bulbs from one shallot. Have left all the rest in the ground.



Were these ready to pick or I've picked them too early? And what do I do with them now to store or should I just eat these ones?

[vixylix]

They look good Marie! Do you know what kind of shallots they are?

[ESBkevin]

They look good to me Marie, platt up the leaves and hang them in a dry shed for storage, they will store longer if they dry out the stems themselves. Use as you need them.

[craftymarie]

Thank you These were Red Sun shallots. I bought them very late as sets (50p!) and only planted out at the start of May.

Perhaps the very dry weather we've had this summer has been good for them.

[vixylix]

They're looking much better than mine! I'd leave the rest in the ground to fatten up (assuming you don't need the space) - but if you're happy with that size there's nothing wrong with them!

[roitelet]

When you are ready to lift them shove a fork under them and loosen them then leave them for two weeks before taking them out of the ground. Spread them out somewhere where they can get a good baking from the sun. Turn them over after another two weeks and leave that side to dry before storing them.

[craftymarie]

Thanks. I shall be leaving the rest to hopefully get a bit bigger since I don't need the space for now. I like that you plant one and get many back I might try some other varieties next year.