Shallots to small

Luke Allen 7/13/2012, 8:00 am

I need someone to tell me about Shallots. I have been growing
them but they never seem to get very big. I plant them in the early spring just like my onions. I harvest when the tops turn brown and lay over. I get alot of shallots but not very big. Onions in the same area get huge. Help!!!!

moswell 7/13/2012, 9:55 am

Hi Luke. There's a nice Friday Rookie Topic from last year on shallots: https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t7360-friday-s-rookie-topic-vi-shallots

But basically, they'll be bigger if you plant them in the fall and let them overwinter (or whatever passes for overwinter in Texas, lol). I'm sure someone from Texas or that area can advise as to when that fall planting time is.

Luke Allen 7/14/2012, 7:46 am

Thanks for the information. I will add shallots to my fall garden.

**camprn** 7/14/2012, 9:56 am

It is my understanding that shallots are something of a biennial. Here is a photo of shallots from my garden. The small ones in the center and left will be planted next season and make bigger shallots like the ones on the right. These shallots don't get much bigger than chestnuts.
shallots - Shallots to small 00515

**walshevak** 7/14/2012, 5:54 pm

I planted mine in the fall and harvested in late June when the tops died down. All were smaller than Camprn's. I have them in a net bag waiting for fall to plant again to see if I can improve the size. It was my first time growing them and I was disappointed I didn't get supermarket sized bulbs.

Kay

**camprn** 7/14/2012, 10:11 pm

I had the same issue with them being small the first year but the second year they grew bigger shallots. This is the third year growing shallots and I now have enough for seed next year and my kitchen.

I only had 8 to start with.To

Luke Allen 7/15/2012, 10:24 am

As usual the knowledge of the SFG folks is great. I thank you for
this info and I will plant these little ones this fall. Shallots in my
store are usually north of $4.00/lb.
Luke

cpl100 7/16/2012, 5:34 pm

Do you all just buy some shallots at the store and then plant them? I have not seen shallot starters here anywhere. In the store, they are usually two sides attached together. Just separate the two and plant each of them and more will grow?

Very anxious to try it!

**camprn** 7/16/2012, 6:01 pm

Another thing i have noticed is that the shallots like to grow shallower than even the onions. Because they are a multiplier, they need to be closer to the surface so they can expand.

I got my shallot bulbs in the fall at the grain store. You should see them out on the shelves when the garlic shows up late summer/Autumn.

cpl100 7/16/2012, 6:40 pm

Thank you. I could have sworn I had in my notes to plant shallots now and garlic in October after reading these forums. Also could have sworn that I was told here that shallots won't over-winter like the garlic in MA. I guess I am wrong again. Honestly, I don't know how it all gets mixed up in my brain......

**RoOsTeR** 7/16/2012, 7:05 pm

cpl100 wrote:Thank you. I could have sworn I had in my notes to plant shallots now and garlic in October after reading these forums. Also could have sworn that I was told here that shallots won't over-winter like the garlic in MA. I guess I am wrong again. Honestly, I don't know how it all gets mixed up in my brain......

Try keeping it more simple. You'll be more successful taking some baby steps instead of trying to do it all, all at once.

**camprn** 7/16/2012, 8:00 pm

RoOsTeR wrote:
cpl100 wrote:Thank you. I could have sworn I had in my notes to plant shallots now and garlic in October after reading these forums. Also could have sworn that I was told here that shallots won't over-winter like the garlic in MA. I guess I am wrong again. Honestly, I don't know how it all gets mixed up in my brain......

Try keeping it more simple. You'll be more successful taking some baby steps instead of trying to do it all, all at once.

Rooster has it right. You cannot possibly fit everything you want to grow into a 4x4 and it is quite late in the season.

CPL, if you actually had some shallot sets now, you could probably grow some. I don't know that you will find them at the garden/grain store just now, but you may have some luck. As I said before they are best planted in the spring here in New England.

Yes, plant garlic in late October or early November.

I need to caution you to do your own research and certainly not take my word as gospel, most things are not written in stone. I only offer my opinion based on what I have learned from reading a lot and practicing gardening for a while.

boffer 7/16/2012, 8:13 pm

Who has learned to garden who did not at the same time learn to be patient?

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