Shallot question

[vaca]

Hi,

I've not had a chance to plant out my shallots yet - and the weather in London is not helping me :(

I recall reading somewhere (buy I may be wrong) that it might be a good idea to place all my bulbs on moist compost to wake the shallots' roots in preparation for planting out as I wait for dryer weather. I'm thinking it might buy me a week or two of time until I manage to get them out. If this is correct, should I just stand them in compost so that just the base of the roots are touching the compost? or should I just wait until better weather and plant them out as normal?

Thanks,
Vaca

[vaca]

[sandersj89]

Starting them in pots is fine and will help bring them on a bit quicker. They wont need much in the way of shelter so I would be happy to get them on their way.

Jerry

[Curryandchips]

Mine are still sat in trays of compost, since I have not had a chance to plant them out yet. They seem quite comfortable in their trays on a shelf in the greenhouse. Perhaps next week ...

[redimp]

Sowed mine at the correct depth on Sunday 19th Feb.  They are not showing yet but the garlic planted at the same time is.  Do have a problem or should I just carry on waiting?

[sandersj89]

Gently open the tip of the stalk where the dried leaves from last year are, you should be able to see the nre green tips inside.

They tend to take ages to get going above ground but they put on root growth first.

Another test is to gently try and pull them from the ground, if they are solid then they have a root system and are on their way.

Mine took ages to come up and only noticed them at the weekend.

Jerry

[keef]

I planted mine late feb, and some more in mid march. Just stick them striaght in the ground, they're hardy enough - and the weather is (or was) warming up a bit so they should get going quite quickly.

[vaca]

I've placed my shallots on compost  :D they do look much happer now  ;)

Hopefully this weekend I'll be able plant them out...

Vaca

[KMARKSnr]

I`ve always started my onion sets,and shallots under glass,and in trays of compost.
          Only yesterday i started to plant my onion bed out,- with approx` 200 sets going in,and all boasting a growth of green stem of approx`5".
           The shallots are still in trays of compost ready to go in,and are about 4"high in green stem.
           I`ve never had any problems over the years "kick starting"my sets.

                       Regards,
                            Mark.