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.
Do you need anymore shallots?..I've got plenty of golden gormet and red sun..I could bring some tomorrow..
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....
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.
Ah you beat me to it, I've just sat down at the computer to do that myself! ;D
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.
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.
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!
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.
:'(
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. >:(
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.
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?
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
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..... :-\
But what if February is the same next year as it has been for the last 2 years?
Ours had ran out of shallots, still, I got 4 bags of mixed onions ;D
Quote from: grannyjanny on September 15, 2011, 13:04:21
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.
Having thunk on, I will plant the Wilkos shallots in the spring.
So now I am in the market for some Jermors!