Shallots

gingeandhales 4/9/2011, 4:17 pm

Anyone ever grow shallots from grocery store shallots? I have some organic shallots that have been sitting on top of my fridge since early February. I don't see any sprouts or anything, but I am afraid to cook with them since they are pretty old. Rather than toss them, I am thinking about planting, but I have some questions.

1) do they sprout like garlic? The garlic I bought at the same time had grown green shoots long ago. These shallots don't seem to have any sign of sprouting, and these are certified organic (which I know is a very vague classification), the garlic was not.
2) IF they do sprout, should I wait until I see signs of this before attempting to plant them?
3) Do I need to peel the paper off before plating or does the paper need to stay off, or does it not matter either way?
4) how do I go about plating these things?

**camprn** 4/9/2011, 4:25 pm

gingeandhales wrote:Anyone ever grow shallots from grocery store shallots? I have some organic shallots that have been sitting on top of my fridge since early February. I don't see any sprouts or anything, but I am afraid to cook with them since they are pretty old. Rather than toss them, I am thinking about planting, but I have some questions.

1) do they sprout like garlic? The garlic I bought at the same time had grown green shoots long ago. These shallots don't seem to have any sign of sprouting, and these are certified organic (which I know is a very vague classification), the garlic was not.
2) IF they do sprout, should I wait until I see signs of this before attempting to plant them?
3) Do I need to peel the paper off before plating or does the paper need to stay off, or does it not matter either way?
4) how do I go about plating these things?

Go ahead and plant them if they are not squishy.
Yes, they grow kind of like garlic.
Plant them even if there are no green shoots, they should grow fine.
do not peel off the paper like skin layer. Loosen and level you mix, then place the bulbs fat side down, pointy end up and push them into the mix until the tip is just below surface level.
Water and go on to the next thing on the list.

Best of luck

Aub 5/13/2011, 11:20 am

How do I know when my shallots are ready? I put them in back in October last year.

pattipan 5/13/2011, 12:04 pm

Aub wrote:How do I know when my shallots are ready? I put them in back in October last year.

The tops start yellowing and begin to fall over. They do not have to be completely yellowed. A second indication is to check the skins around the soil line (or pull one up!), if those outer skins look and feel papery, then you can start pulling them.

I was afraid I pulled mine too early last year, but they were interfering with my tomatoes. After 3-4 weeks curing, they were fine!

pattipan

Aub 5/13/2011, 12:48 pm

I just looked at your post from last year and I'm so jealous of your shallots! I will have to wait a few more weeks for them to turn yellow. There are a few yellow pieces but mostly green and not flopping over.

**Kelejan** 12/10/2011, 5:05 pm

Today I saw some shallots for sale in our local supermarket. Up to now I have never really looked to see how much they cost, but having planted some this winter so that I can harvest them next year, I did take note.

They are priced at $2.39 for three ounces. (Two to three shallots in a little bag).

A tad more expensive than yellow onions at $1.00 for three pounds on special.

According to my arithmetic, that means that three pounds of shallots would cost $38.24?Please someone, check my numbers.

**llama momma** 12/10/2011, 5:19 pm

I rounded up my decimal place and got almost an identical answer

.80 for an oz.
$12.80 a pound
and $38.40 for 3 pounds.

**Kelejan** 12/10/2011, 6:03 pm

I did not round up so that makes our answers about right.

Now to count how many shallots I planted and work out how much dosh I will not have to pay out for shallots next year. Shocked

Err, perhaps I had better wait until I actually harvest them. I will report back then.

ashort 12/10/2011, 7:15 pm

Just planted some shallots today myself... and some garlic - fingers crossed!

**Kelejan** 12/10/2011, 9:35 pm

Mine are tucked away under a covering of leaves and snow.

I am tempted to take a peek but I will wait and do that when the temperature rises above freezing. Not in the forecast for this week, just have to wait for the weather system to change direction from the Arctic.

**camprn** 12/10/2011, 9:45 pm

I didn't want to risk my shallots in our bitter cold winter. I held some back for spring planting.

Lavender Debs 12/11/2011, 6:46 am

I have one square in. Tucked under maple leaves and straw where I am hoping they do not appear to be a perfect root cellar for mice or rats. I have a square all ready for the shortest day of the year. Just this fall I read that they should be planted on the shortest day and harvested on the longest. I cannot imagine that will work in my garden world but as long as I can still dig in I'll give it a shot.

The Solstice is the official kick-off for starting winter sowing too. I actually have some gardening to look forward to.

Debs….still aching from late season compost turning.

**walshevak** 12/11/2011, 9:24 am

Mine are sprouting because of the mild weather we have been having. I have a hyacinth coming up too. Probably should have waited until Dec to plant instead of Nov.

Kay

newstart 12/11/2011, 9:50 am

in my area you can get shallots at the asian supermarket for around 89 cents a pound. may want to check out an asian market if you have one nearby

moswell 12/12/2011, 2:45 pm

Yeah, I was afraid I'd planted my garlic and shallots too late (I think I planted in late October), but with all the mild temperatures, I've got a few sprouts out there!

martha 12/12/2011, 3:00 pm

89 cents? Really? That makes it almost worth flying to Texas to bring back 100 or so pounds! At the restaurant we go through 3 to 5 pounds a week! And believe me, we sure aren't paying $.89!

(Inflation - anyone old enough to remember when a standard keyboard had a "cents" sign?)

moswell 12/12/2011, 3:04 pm

martha wrote:

(Inflation - anyone old enough to remember when a standard keyboard had a "cents" sign?)

More information than you ever wanted on the cent sign: http://www.charlieanderson.com/centsign.htm

Very Happy

martha 12/12/2011, 3:24 pm

Thank you, Moswell - that was fun! (Just my $.02 worth!)

moswell 12/12/2011, 3:32 pm

martha wrote: (Just my $.02 worth!)

boffer 12/12/2011, 3:47 pm

martha wrote:(Inflation - anyone old enough to remember when a standard keyboard had a "cents" sign?)

These things?

2¢

martha 12/12/2011, 3:55 pm

I was looking for a friendly nod, but we only have a twisted nod, or an overly enthusiastic nod.

ashort 12/12/2011, 4:07 pm

martha wrote:Thank you, Moswell - that was fun! (Just my $.02 worth!)

You're cheap... affraid

my thoughts go for at least a nickel these days.. Shallots 311672

martha 12/12/2011, 4:22 pm

Yeah, Ashort, but look at you - you are obviously one of the new (see young face), intelligent (see big glasses), go-getting (see big smile) generation!

Me? I'm stuck in the 70's - a leftover hippie-wanna-be (just a tiny bit too young to have qualified as a hippie!)

No_Such_Reality 5/9/2012, 5:25 pm

I could not resist, the shallot sets were on clearance, I had to have them.

Now the dreaded question, is it too late to plant them, I'm Sunset zone 22. Will they keep until fall if I put them in the back of a cool dark cabinet (70)?

**camprn** 5/9/2012, 6:25 pm

Plunk 'em in. I plant 5 per square like the dots on a die.

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