Allotments 4 All

Bought my shallots and read on the packet 'plant when risk of frost has passed'.  I thought shallots were supposed to go in really early?  My Gran quoted something about planting out on the shortest day and harvesting on the longest... i know i've missed that but surely they need to go in before May?!? :-\

Sparky

hhhmmm...mine went in ages ago.....but then thats what the pack said.....I guess, as with all things, different varieties have different needs.  If you can provide protection, like a chloche or fleece, I guess now is the time to get them out.

Get 'em in quick!
No need for fleece, but it will stop the birds pulling the things out? = Tim

There's an old saying that shallots go in on the shortest day and are harvested on the longest.
I usually put mine in around the end of Feb or first week of March, and I cover them -just- with soil.
(Thanks to John -below- for picking me up on my deliberate -of course- mistake!)

Er, Ken, I think you've got that the wrong way around. Plant on the shortest and harvest on the longest is what I have always read. I've never grown shallots so I'm quite open to correction. This site gives a brief but thorough overview of the biology of shallots:  http://oregonstate.edu/Dept/NWREC/shallot.html.

Just looked in the Tuckers seed catalogue - says you can plant up to the end of April. Some varieties are for overwintering (got Jermor in myself), but Sante should be planted mid-April - says in a difficult season, planting earlier may result in bolting; others sown mid Feb to end of April.

If a heavy frost is forecast, then use protection - fleece or something...

Boxing Day is supposed to be the traditional day for sowing Onions (perhaps this is for show as Kelsae, the big thing, should be sown Dec-Jan)

Mine all started sprouting in early February, so I ended up planting them in modules and putting them in the cold frame, transferred them to the bed a fortnight ago and they were already several inches high in leaf!

Ten x