The bed was shared with garlic as any form of onion has to be included in the crop rotation to reduce the risk of disease being carried on to the next year.
Shallots have a mild flavour and are very popular in France where many varieties originate.
I found the hand weeding therapeutic and there were no accidents that tend to occur when using a hoe. The crop was excellent and 30 bulbs produced 6 bunches and several loose bulbs which could not be plaited as the tops fell off.
Like the Garlic, I planted the bulbs too closely and was unable to get my hoe between the growing bulbs. This meant that I had to hand-weed the bed throughout the growing season. It also means that they produce smaller bulbs.
Don't worry, if you do not have an allotment, why not push a few shallot bulbs into a bed in the garden, or even a large pot? They can be planted in October or November, or any time in the spring when the soil has warmed up a bit.
Simplicity itself!
Buy some bulbs from your local garden centre, B&Q or similar, or mail order.
There are numerous varieties to choose from and for Autumn 2006 I chose the variety "Grise" from Thompson and Morgan as I like a full flavour.
There were 19 bulbs and I planted them on 7th October. The unusually warm weather that encouraged the garlic to sprout early did not seem to have the same effect on the shallots, and only one had sprouted by the 30th October.
The bulbs have sprouted well, but not as dramatically as the garlic, and for most of the winter the leaves were only about an inch high.
I have kept them weeded and hoed as I do not like them to have competition for nourishment!
The relatively warm wether this winter has meant that weeds have germinated and grown constantly and adjacent plots that have been neglected from october onwards ar a mass of lush weeds.
Hoeng has been easy due to the six inch spacing between the bulbs.
I planted the other half of the bed with some of last years bulbs in February, comparison will be interesting.
Plant in soil that has not been used for members of the onion family for at least two or three years, (Leeks,onions and garlic).
Add as much manure or compost as you can and plant about 6-8 inches apart, the greater the distance the better the result and the easier to hoe.
October and November produce the earliest crops, February to April is nearly as good in yield and matures later.
A fornightly application of Miracle-Gro when the plants are growing well in the spring with 6 inch shoots will improve the yield. Keep well watered in dry weather.
A khaki coloured shallot rarely seen in Britain. A gourmet shallot prized in French cuisine with its intense and concentrated flavour. It originated in Kazakhstan. available from
Thompson and Morgan
500g approx 15-20 sets.
Price £5.49
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