Shallots

[Sparky]

As a newbie I was just wondering about growing shallots.  Have put in onion sets and but someone said seeds were better... can only see shallot sets in my garden centre, does anyone know if you can also grow them from seed  . and if so any advice on which works better

[Mrs Ava]

hmmm....I think I have only ever seen shallots as sets.  Curious.  Someone will know for sure.  

[philcooper]

There are a few suppliers of shallot seed but I haven't seen anyone claim they are better than the sets, which do give "guaranteed" results - it's now time to plant them - in pots if the weathers too inclement

Mr Fothergill and Tuckers have them (possibly others but not T&M or Kings)

Phil

[Sparky]

Got some sets today!!  Why do you recommend pots?  Never grown them (or much else!!) before but had read that you can plant them straight in the ground.  I am new allotmentier so any advice is always welcome

Sparky

[Mrs Ava]

This time of year the ground can be very cold and wet and the bulbs will just sit there with cold bums and may just rot away. This started happening to me last year so I oiked them out and put the remainder in pots.  By growing them in pots, you can control the wetness of the compost and keep them sheltered so they have a little bit of a head start before putting the in their final position in a few weeks time, already rooted and in the mood to grow.  

[philcooper]

Despite (or possibly because of) her mongrel background EJ's dead right (IMO)

I've given up planting most things direct and use modules or pots (in a frost free greenhouse) to start things off. This gets round:

Conditions being too wet/dry/cold/hot

Fighting off slugs/birds

Sorts out the spacing

Doesn't waste seed

Phil

And, at this time of year, brings things on a treat so you can either have an earlier crop or make up for lost time

[Sparky]

Nice one, should i have done that with my onion sets then as well?  Will it work ok if i put them on my windowsills as i don't have a greenhouse

Sparky

[philcooper]

You can do your onions the same way, but as they don't normally go out until later (Marchish), there is not so much urgency. But the extra growing season is all to the good.

Windowsill is ok - provided other occupants of household appreciate that windowsills were invented to raise plants on

Phil