Topic: Wilkinson's banana shallot sets

[Deb P]

Popped into Wilco's the other evening and found some 'Banana Shallot' sets going for £2 a pack. These sets are very long, no variety is mentioned but they look much bigger than both Jermor and Longor. I've bought a few packs as an experiment, it will be interesting to see if they clump up or not. I will still grow some from seed early next year just in case..... oh yes, they also had some 'Red Sun' packs as well for the same price.

[goodlife]

Do you need anymore shallots?..I've got plenty of golden gormet and red sun..I could bring some tomorrow..

[Deb P]

Thanks very much for the offer, the honest answer is no, I had already bought 50 Jermor and bought the Wilco's ones on the spur of the moment as you do....... ::) I am already wondering where I will find space for leeks next year! :-[ ::) Good job I decided not to grow maincrop onions next year, the shallots are taking over....

[Ellen K]

Popped in and bought 3 packs today - they look good.

Have emailed Wilkos CS to see if they can tell us what variety they are and will report back if we get an answer.

[Deb P]

Ah you beat me to it, I've just sat down at the computer to do that myself! ;D

[Ellen K]

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/onion-and-leek-seeds/shallot-zebrune/gww4954TM

^^ Just spotted these seeds from the Evil Empire - saved to my wishlist for their next free P&P day.

[Deb P]

Those are the ones I grew from seed this year Ellen, you saw how big they can get on Sunday! ;D  I got some more in the half price seed sale at Wyvales which they did just before  the 50p seed sale, I didn't want to miss getting them. I'm going to grow mine direcrt into root trainers next year though, I seem to lose quite a few transplanting them.

[Ellen K]

Excellent!  I'm definitely growing them next year.

I'll be sowing direct in shallow tubs as this uses about the same amt of compost as the root trainers  ::)

Wilkos have acknowledged my email and have "contacted their supplier" about the mystery shallots.  Hope they are Jermors!

[Ellen K]

Agh!  They come back and said that the variety is Echalion.

Come to think of it, they do look like Tesco's Finest Echalion Shallots but they are only £1 a bag.

 :'(

[Deb P]

Ah, that means they will act like 'proper' banana shallots and we will get a seed head and no multiple shallots then.....rats, that is no good. :'(  I might plant one bag but might as well eat the rest now! The ones in Tesco's will do the same I guess. I'll stick to growing them from seed, but that is misleading when they are sold as 'plantable' shallots in Wilco's. >:(

[Ellen K]

I've replied saying "that's not a variety, it's just a fancy word for Banana Shallots" and am awaiting an answer.

Meanwhile, over on Facebook, T&M are touting their new-for-2012 seeds and I just had to look:

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/onion-and-leek-seeds/shallot-camelot/gww4964TM

Another one to try.

[Ellen K]

Wilkos have replied:

The supplier has now advised that the variety is “VGARMOR”.

Google doesn't know what they are either.

Edited to add: the bulbs are Dutch - could that be the Dutch version of Jermor?

[Deb P]

Ah ha, they mean 'Vigarmor', it is a variety I've grown before, long thin bulbs that do split. It is related to Pesandor if I am not mistaken. I think I had some of these from Tuckers a couple of years ago but planted them in spring not autumn....I will investigate further...... ;D

[Deb P]

Hmmm, every site I have looked at mention planting these in Feb not the autumn...I might take a punt and plant half soon and save a bag for spring planting as well, in for a penny..... :-\

[grannyjanny]

But what if February is the same next year as it has been for the last 2 years?

[manicscousers]

Ours had ran out of shallots, still, I got 4 bags of mixed onions ;D

[Ellen K]

But what if February is the same next year as it has been for the last 2 years?

Dunno really - but I planted Golden Gourmet as an overwinter Shallot last year and they made multiple bulbs looking good and strong - then all of them bolted, unlike the Spring planted ones which did OK.

I am not sure that they necessarily rot in the ground overwinter, but that could happen also.  

[Ellen K]

Having thunk on, I will plant the Wilkos shallots in the spring.

So now I am in the market for some Jermors!