Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: stanley on July 25, 2006, 17:24:00

Title: shallots
Post by: stanley on July 25, 2006, 17:24:00
made a boo boo, going on holiday tomorrow for a week and lifted my shallots on Saturday, in hindsight I should have left the things in the ground, however in a non coherent moment I decided to lift em.
At present they are drying flat on chicken wire cradles, tonight I am going to have to make a decision what to do with them.
My thoughts at present are to either leave them where they are or string em up on the washing line, (no indoor options available)
HELP ! :'(
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: katynewbie on July 25, 2006, 17:30:15
 ???

Mine are drying out on a spare bit of space in the greenhouse, have been for a week or so. What's the worry Stanley?

;)
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: stanley on July 25, 2006, 17:40:45
I dont have a greenhouse!

Title: Re: shallots
Post by: katynewbie on July 25, 2006, 17:53:40
 :-[

Sorry, misunderstood! Garage? Shed? Spare bedroom? They should be ok outside in this weather though! Think they can take about 2-3 weeks to dry out, but they may be ok in less because of this weather
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: laurieuk on July 25, 2006, 18:11:02
If you have any of the net bags that you buy oranges and the like in, they are very good to put shallots in and thean hang up in the garage,it will allow plaenty of air.
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: Paulines7 on July 25, 2006, 18:15:58
I harvested quite a few that had come out of the ground and were lying loose on the soil.  As rain was forecast, I put them in a seed tray and left them to mature indoors on a sunny window ledge.  They ripened very quickly and were able to be used in a week or so. 
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: stanley on July 25, 2006, 19:07:02
or maybe take them with us and hang them in the tent?
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: cleo on July 25, 2006, 19:19:44
Well they might deter mozzies, but it`s only garlic for vampires ;)
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 25, 2006, 20:43:56
Even if you leave them outside, they'll come to no harm. You don't need to worry unless you're likely to get kleptomaniac visitors.
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: jonny211 on July 26, 2006, 11:21:17
Quick question from me.... how do you tell when they've dried out enough? Most of the 'tails' on mine have shrivelled to nought but when I tried one last night it was quite green inside, which I've taken as not being dried enough. Shall I take them back to the greenhouse for another baking?

Many thanks.

Jon
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: tim on July 26, 2006, 11:28:02
DON'T bake!!
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: jonny211 on July 26, 2006, 14:00:53
dry gently?
Title: Re: shallots
Post by: Curryandchips on July 26, 2006, 14:50:28
The reason for drying is to deter mouldiness in storage? Therefore when the outsides are crisp and dry then they should be ready for storage. The best method is gentle drying with good airflow. Excessive heat will only tend to make them sweat, which will not assist in drying the outsides.