Shallots

[woodypecks]

 Found some  French banana shallots in Lidls yesterday ....24p for a little string bagfull !
    Wondering,  can I grow these here ? and   when should I plant them ?    PLEASE   :) Debbie

[woodypecks]

[ACE]

As soon as it is dry enough to get on the ground. The old planting rules for shallots were 'to plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest'

I would not really harvest in June but the planting advice is sound.

[woodypecks]

Thanks Ace !  Not today then . It is raining cats and dogs here .   :) Debs

[Tee Gee]

This is my method.http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Shallot/Shallots.htm

Basically with setts; ground conditions dictate the timing.

If seed grown then it is soil condition & plant size.

[Deb P]

I have found that if you try to grow true French banana shallots from sets, they just flower. You only get one shallot when you grow them from seed, they do not divide and grow offsets from sets like 'normal' shallots do.

You can save the seed heads and sow your own banana shallots from the seeds the next year. It's a bit more long winded, but you can grow some really massive shallots, which means you only need to use one a meal!

[manicscousers]

that's what happened to ours last year, I forgot and broke off the seed heads  :o :)

[Deb P]

that's what happened to ours last year, I forgot and broke off the seed heads  :o :)

:o :o :o Sacré bleu!!

[woodypecks]

Tee Gee -- thankyou ,your notes on shallots are brilliant !
Deb P and Manicscousers --thankyou , gosh that is interesting ! I will do that and make sure I label the bed so I dont forget !   
             You are all brilliant !  Debbie