Your comments and tips

11 Jul 17, King J (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

"Peter Cundall's year-round planting and sowing guide for vegetables" ("suitable for Tasmanian and cool-climate conditions") on the ABC radio website says to sow shallots in May and plant them during June to August. I'm not sure what the distinction is supposed to be between sowing and planting shallots.

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14 Jul 17, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

'Sowing' refers to seeds and 'planting' refers to bulbs or sets

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22 Mar 17, Tery (Australia - temperate climate)

I think at times definitely garlic and therefore possibly therefore shallot it takes a couple of seasons to get results

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16 Mar 17, tony (New Zealand - temperate climate)

I bought some of those long trendy French shallots from the supermarket and put them in and let them go to seed. Now I have heaps of seed for new plants. Same with red and white onions.

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17 Mar 17, Jo (Australia - temperate climate)

That is a good way to get seed for next seasons crop or to have some to swap or giveaway. Seed can be saved from most vegetables but select a good plant to save seed rather than a poor one as this will increase the chance of good plants from the seed. This is also a good idea to save money, we should encourage it more.

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23 Jan 17, Lindsay (Australia - temperate climate)

I grew shallots in pots for the first time this year and am puzzled since in some pots they produced bulbs and yet in other pots none of the plants produced a bulb by the time they had died off. Any ideas please? Annoying because the few that I got were fabulous. Nothing like bought ones. Thanks.

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04 Apr 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)

If putting in pots make sure to have good rich loose soil. The only time I have poor shallots is when they grow in the shade (winter sun comes across the end of the row). The best shallots I grow, are from now into the winter. I read below how people leave the plant to nearly die before picking. I pick mine before the plant goes to seed. I eat shallots nearly every day when I have them producing in the garden. In scrabble eggs, in tossed salads, in soups, on a sandwich with tomato meat cheese, or even just whole on the plate with other salads.

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03 Apr 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)

I grow shallots every year from Feb/March until Oct - Bundaberg. I keep some of the bulbs for the following year. This has gone on for 35 years. In the winter they take a long time to bulb, Where as in the hotter months the run to bulb very quickly. Shallots like sun all day. If grown in the shade they grow very weak and may not bulb up. Plenty of sun water and fert. The bought ones are generally spring onions.

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09 Apr 17, Lindsay (Australia - temperate climate)

Thanks very much for your comments Mike. I'll make sure to give them plenty of sun and warmer weather. I'm in the SW of WA, so I'll wait for warmer weather before trying again. Cheers.

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16 Apr 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)

Depending on how many bulbs you have - I would suggest you plant a few now - say 6-10. If they come up and start growing well then plant some more. I usually plant 2 rows with about 12-15 in each row every 4-6 weeks. This year I'm planting 1 row each 2-3 weeks. I'm just starting to eating some I planted about 7-8 weeks ago - they are a little thin - probably due to the excessive rain we had last month - leached the fert out of the soil. A planting guide says to plant from Feb to August.

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