Shallots from seed

[Tee Gee]

Had a go at growing Shallots from seed this year and was quite happy with the results.

What I noticed was; they didn't split into a number of bulbs per plant I only got one, hence the size.

Have saved a few to plant out next year as sets to see if they will split in the normal manner;

Note they are the pinky red ones next to my onions;



The standard shallots are in the string bags;



Have had a good crop of fruit this year these are my Apples & Pears;







Looks like I will be on Apple Pie & Crumble for quite some time in the future.

[Tee Gee]

[elvis2003]

stunning display teegee as usual!
interesting that they didnt split when grown from seed,did you have a good germination rate?

[GRACELAND]

 :o         great crop

[saddad]

Good lucking apples TeeGee...  :)

[grawrc]

Is the problem of the shallots not splitting maybe because they are biennial? Planted as sets they are already into their second year.

Don't know just wondering! :-\

[thifasmom]

all looks good as per usual but i was wondering shouldn't the fruit be stored in a dark cool place, won't the greenhouse get to warm on sunny days even in the winter ???

[chriscross1966]

I think it might be down to cold.... the frosts cause the bulb to respond by splitting so when you plant shallots out from bulbs they've been cold-stored and frequently go in in December/January so the split and form multiples... |Seed shasllots are generally grown in spring and don't get the cold long enough... I'm experimenting with seed sown now to see if they'll split.... might not work but thanks to the Wyevale 50p seed sales Ihad a spare pack......

It's worth 50p to find out methinks :-)

[Tee Gee]

did you have a good germination rate?

As I recall about 90%

Is the problem of the shallots not splitting maybe because they are biennial? Planted as sets they are already into their second year.

I think it might be down to cold.... the frosts cause the bulb to respond by splitting so when you plant shallots out from bulbs they've been cold-stored and frequently go in in December/January so the split and form multiples

Both of these comments came in to my mind hence the reason for saving some for next year to see if this is indeed the case!

shouldn't the fruit be stored in a dark cool place

Yes! They are only there as a temporary measure until I get around to sorting out those for storing and those for immediate use!

[thifasmom]

did you have a good germination rate?

shouldn't the fruit be stored in a dark cool place

Yes! They are only there as a temporary measure until I get around to sorting out those for storing and those for immediate use!

thanks for clearing that up :)

[1066]

As ever TeeGee, the pics of your produce look fantastic.
And an interesting experiment and one where we'll have to wait till next year for the next installment !

[qahtan]

Great looking produce. and I particully like the idea of one larger bulb on the shallots, I hadn't really thought about it, but I didn't thing shallots flowered or seeded,,,,, better your way instead of several smaller ones....

    qahtan

[nilly71]

Is the problem of the shallots not splitting maybe because they are biennial? Planted as sets they are already into their second year.

Don't know just wondering! :-\

I read the same somewhere.

Neil

[Dadnlad]

We had a fair bit of white rot on our shallots (aswell as onions) this year, and are trying more seed-grown next......these might be an alternative to bog standard sets :-\

TeeGee - which variety are yours ?
did you sow them spring or autumn ?
direct sown or transplanted ?

[Tee Gee]

TeeGee - which variety are yours ? did you sow them spring or autumn ? direct sown or transplanted ?

Variety; Prisma

Sown 11th Jan

Germinated;16th Jan

Pricked out/Potted up  24th Jan

Planted out;  25th April

Lifted; circa 20th July ?

Strung up; 26th August

[Anisemary]

I grew banana shallots from seed for the first time this year, it stated on the packet that they grew as single bulbs. Also planted sets and they were nowhere near as good as the seeds. I germinated the seeds in modules, about 4 or five seeds per module, and then planted them out as they were. The results were very large  bunches of shallots that looked vertually like they had been grown from a set. Very successful, won't bother with sets again.

[grawrc]

When did you sow them?

[Dadnlad]

Cheers for the help TeeGee ;)

Will track some down, and treat them much as onion seed then ;D

[Anisemary]

When did you sow them?

Good job I keep a note book on-line! (Too many senior 'memory' moments nowadays ;)  M id February in a cold greenhouse, but I seem to remember putting them in a slightly heated propogator to germinate, I also germinated some singly and planted them out about 4" apart, all grew really strong and well.

[ceres]

Welcome to A4A anisemary!

[Anisemary]

Welcome to A4A anisemary!

Thanks! Not sure I have time for this, have been trying to wean myself off a poultry form for the past two years!  :) Still, I could be doing worse things in the wee small hours, like SLEEPING!