Shallots (forum)

Prickles starts with ...
Last winter I planted some shallot bulbs (the kind used in Thai and Lao cooking) which I'd bought from the supermarket.

I later found out that they are normally treated with something to stop them sprouting before sale, but the following year they would behave as normal (i.e. produce 3-5 new bulbs per plant.

The single bulbs have developed to a whopping size and produced flower stems.

Do I lift them and replant in cooler weather, or do I leave them in the ground?



Time: 21st January 2013 11:16am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Prickles
 
#UserID: 4615
Posts: 21
View All Prickles's Edible Fruit Trees

Xiem says...
This might help you Prickles:

http://greenharvest.com.au/Plants/Information/Shallots.html

Time: 21st January 2013 11:30am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Diego
 
#UserID: 4715
Posts: 283
View All Diego's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
The article says: 'save the good-sized bulbs, but not the largest, for replanting.'

I always keep the largest ones, so now I'm wondering, why this comment? Any ideas people?

Time: 21st January 2013 8:36pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 154
Posts: 1842
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

Mike says...
Julie for many tubers,corms and bulbs that are vegetative it is best to eat the big ones and plant the small.The environment and growing conditions have more influence on the final harvest than the boost at the start.
Single bulbed one that flower could be viet red shallots rather than thai bunching purples that don't flower.

Time: 21st January 2013 9:12pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author
Cairns
#UserID: 5418
Posts: 1438
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees

Brain says...
I grow the Chinese Red Shallots (bulb type, bunching, does not flower), so the below comments may not be applicable to other shallots. When I plant the big bulbs, you will find that it will quickly subdivide into 2 or 3 plants, crowding on the same space and after a while it will sub divide again, making the new bulbs quite small/tiny.

Obviously if you want plenty of bulbs to grow subsequently, this is a great idea but not so if you have to peel the outer layer of small bulbs skins and you end up with very little to eat. Or you will have to break away the 'clump' very early on and replant.

The irony is, I do find smaller bulbs grows into big bulbs if given the right fertiliser regime. At the end of the cycle, you get 1 or 2 big bulbs per plant.

To dig them up or leave them depending on if the ground gets frozen, or too wet. Personally, I would dig them up, divide and replant.

Time: 21st January 2013 10:47pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Brain
Brisbane
#UserID: 6289
Posts: 638
View All Brain's Edible Fruit Trees

Prickles says...
The bulbs I bought had brown skins and purple/white inners. I chose clumps of 2 or 3 bulbs, split them into single bulbs and planted them out. They all have flower stems.

No idea what variety they are, but obviously one popular with commercial growers.

Brain .. nothing to divide - they didn't produce daughter bulbs.

I'm in NSW Southern Tablelands - very cold winters with heavy frost. Should I lift them and replant in late winter?

Is it worth sowing some of the seed?

It's been an educational process. I'm starting to understand why they are so damned expensive compared to onions.

Time: 21st January 2013 11:46pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Prickles
 
#UserID: 4615
Posts: 21
View All Prickles's Edible Fruit Trees

Brain says...
IMHO, can I suggest an experiment? As it's middle of summer now, I would imagine you can still get a few months worth of growth out of them. So maybe work the soil a bit and re-harvest just prior to mid-winter?

I would grow the seeds, it should give you some small bulbs and then replant to form bigger ones. I think this would be great fun and a pretty cool story to share.

Time: 22nd January 2013 11:24am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Brain
Brisbane
#UserID: 6289
Posts: 638
View All Brain's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
I read ages ago that shallots don't have viable seed. A Dutch company produced one that did, but I heard it wasn't all that successful.

I'll be interested to see what happens if you plant the seeds - mine have never had flowers.

I fed mine a lot better last season. I had been relying on the original mix to supply them with nutrients, but liquid feeds now and then gave much bigger bulbs.

No matter how long I've been gardening, I still learn something all the time. That's the joy of it!

Time: 22nd January 2013 4:45pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 154
Posts: 1842
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

Prickles says...
Thanks for the advice, Brian.

And I'll certainly have a go at growing some seed. If the seed is viable, the seedlings might stand a chance with my very healthy population of harlequin bugs! They don't seem to like members of the onion family, chillies or tomatoes. How generous!

I also think I should bite the bullet and buy some bulbs from a nursery. I'm already in my 60's!

Time: 22nd January 2013 5:21pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Prickles
 
#UserID: 4615
Posts: 21
View All Prickles's Edible Fruit Trees

Brain says...
with nursery purchases, at least you know what variety of the plant you are growing, but it can be leaning on the expensive side. Anyway, most bulbs are generally available for sale in autumn and winter for planting, and they get sold out quickly, so best to start searching now and place your orders, otherwise you miss out for an entire year. This is particularly true with garlic. The other alternative is to grow supermarket procured items, which sometimes can be hit and miss.

You might consider searching youtube for some ideas and inspirations. Plenty of people growing garlic/onions/spring onions and shallots. Anyway, good luck. :)

Time: 22nd January 2013 6:24pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Brain
Brisbane
#UserID: 6289
Posts: 638
View All Brain's Edible Fruit Trees

Prickles says...
This morning I was at my local hardware, where I never miss the opportunity to have a look in their nursery.

Amongst the seedlings, they had Shallots, Allium fistulosum. I did ask the guy if they were like small round onions and he assured me that they were.

When I got home I checked with Ms Google who seems to have a different opinion to both the guy and Oasis (who labelled them as shallots).

I now have a punnet of Green Onions/Welsh Onions/Japanese Leeks/Bunching Onions and, probably, Fools' Shallots. Or is there only one Fool?

The Oasis label recommends the 'shallots' as a suitable companion plant to deter pests from various vegetables including spinach and cabbage. I might position the label amongst the spinach and kale growing next to my supermarket shallots so that the cabbage moths and their caterpillars can read it.

Time: 23rd January 2013 4:07pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Prickles
 
#UserID: 4615
Posts: 21
View All Prickles's Edible Fruit Trees

Xiem says...
At least you are learning by experience Prickles.Yes one can't trust the labels; they call seedlings anything they think will sell.

Time: 23rd January 2013 4:43pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Diego
 
#UserID: 4715
Posts: 283
View All Diego's Edible Fruit Trees

Brain says...
Shallots - Allium fistulosum is still a pretty good plant to grow - goes well with steamed fish (and a bit of ginger of course). Obvously not the type you are after, which is 'true shallots - Allium cepa var. aggregatum'.

If you are after true shallots to grow right now. Can I humbly suggest the following.

Go down to the local markets or even woolies/coles, they should have the French Red or the golden brown variety on sale. Depending on the degree of chemical treatment, they should grow.

Or like me, i got my French Red at Bunnies last winter. Also you can buy them on line during Autumn/winter as well, so wait a few months.

Additionally, try the Chinese Red shallot, you can get them in any Chinese groceries store for between $10 to $15 a kilo. They are red skinned, tiny and bunched up and dry - it can't be missed. They are fairly easy to grow and have faster life cycle. Even this guy is growing them in Qld - no he's not me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG7QV-X1Zyw

The taste for those who have never tried is a stronger tasting version of A. fistulosum, but far more 'fragrant' - if that's the word to use.

Time: 23rd January 2013 6:57pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Brain
Brisbane
#UserID: 6289
Posts: 638
View All Brain's Edible Fruit Trees

Xiem says...
That YouTube was interesting. Must get myself some of those Chinese shallots. Not sure where but next time I am in an asian supermarket......

Time: 23rd January 2013 10:51pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Diego
 
#UserID: 4715
Posts: 283
View All Diego's Edible Fruit Trees

Xiem says...
I now have myself some Chinese shallots (perhaps I should call them challots) kindly given to me by Jeff on Youtube. Thank you very much for the link, Brain.

Time: 25th January 2013 1:23pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Diego
 
#UserID: 4715
Posts: 283
View All Diego's Edible Fruit Trees

Brain says...
I have to say that Jeff is a good bloke.

The only other tips/experiences I can share are to divide them from time to time, as they grow smaller and smaller if left on the ground at the same spot. (yes, they can grow down to a hair's width)

A few months ago, (having grown from a hairs width to little pebble size bulbs - full size), I harvested them when the tops have fallen down (much like garlic) but somehow failed to cure them properly and lost half to mould in space of a few weeks. I managed to save like 10 bulbs and planted them into a small herb type planter about a month ago, seems to be doing ok in the Brisbane heat. Fingers crossed. So until I mastered the curing techniques, I guess it's best to eat them quickly and replant the left overs within a week or so.

Good luck!

Time: 25th January 2013 2:01pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Brain
Brisbane
#UserID: 6289
Posts: 638
View All Brain's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
Perth is obviously a different climate to Brisbane, but I harvest my garlic and shallots in spring, dry them out, then replant around March.

So they are divided every year, never left in the ground. If I miss the odd one, it doesn't sprout till late summer.

Time: 25th January 2013 9:01pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 154
Posts: 1842
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

Prickles says...
Some of the flower heads on my ex-supermarket shallots have a few seedpods amongst mainly flowers - others have no seed pods. I'll save the seed to plant in spring and see what happens. No loss.

So .. I wait until the shallot stems fall over, and then lift and replant in late winter. Or earlier, if they start to sprout.

And buy some "proper" shallot bulbs from a nursery!

Many thanks to all those who passed on their advice and experience. It is very much appreciated.

Time: 3rd February 2013 9:29am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Prickles
 
#UserID: 4615
Posts: 21
View All Prickles's Edible Fruit Trees

Prickles says...
Update: I've pulled my massive shallots and hung them up to dry out, for replanting in winter.

Some of the flower heads contained no seeds; a few set only a few seeds amongst the flowers.

I planted the seeds as I lifted the bulbs - just to see what happened; I now have a little row of shallot seedlings!

I figure that the seedlings will not produce daughter bulbs until at least next year.

Time: 13th March 2013 6:32am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Prickles
 
#UserID: 4615
Posts: 21
View All Prickles's Edible Fruit Trees

Brain says...
I am most impressed that you have succeeded in growing from seeds. Keep up the good work. I never knew they go to seed and you learn something new everyday.

I had to dug all mine up because the recent and heavy rain is causing them to rot in the ground. I dug mine up too late (French Red and Chinese Red) and they were already divided into multiple small bulbs, instead of a single big one.

Do share with us your curing techniques.



Time: 13th March 2013 12:08pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Brain
Brisbane
#UserID: 6289
Posts: 638
View All Brain's Edible Fruit Trees