Your comments and tips

24 Feb 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)

I grow shallots from Feb to Nov in sub tropical, no reason why you can't I feel. In autumn/winter they stay more like a spring onion (straight) longer but when the weather hots up they go to bulb a lot sooner.

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16 Sep 19, Geoffrey Page (Australia - tropical climate)

Q can I grow shallots using potting mix from Woolworths or do I need to make my potting mix fertilizer???

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17 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I would never recommend potting mix for growing vegetables. With the rising temperature going into spring and summer the attention to watering really increases. Lots of watering leaches out the nutrients from the potting mix. Just my opinion but the supermarket potting mix is pretty ordinary - yes maybe good for potting shrubs etc but not for vegies. If you're going to use it mix it with real soil - with 50% or more soil.

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20 Sep 19, Peter Devenny (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

hi anon, I live in a unit and grow all my vegies in Pots on the balcony with great success, however as you stated pots can dry out quickly and nutrients do leech out , i use seaweed mix once a fortnight and dynamic lifter (pelletised) once a month, i also diligently keep an eye on the moisture lvls, i have found using a good mulch about 3 cm deep on top helps with the moisture retention, Happy Gardening. Peter

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22 Apr 20, Meme (Australia - tropical climate)

Thanks for this info as I too will be growing a lot in containers as I am older and bending is not an option I have anymore as well as on my knees. Oh for the good ol' days when my body was more able. Regardless growing especially things you love is a great and satisfying project

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25 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I fertilise before I plant with straights (chemical fert) and water 3 times a week. My fert costs $1-1.5/kg compared to up to $15-20/kg for some of the small fancy stuff. I do take it that people in units have a very limited growing area. And as I said doing pots requires a lot more attention. I also use mulch around most of my plant. I do 12 pallet size raised garden beds half a year for a school. A 12m x 2m home garden 9 mths of the year. I am presently setting up (and will be the operator) 12 garden beds, each 4.8m x 2.5m for a disable group. I'm just finishing off a 6 bay composting system. They are each a pallet high, wide and deep. Cheers

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17 Sep 19, Peter Devenny (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

yes you can , however I personally would go with Searles brand, available in 30 or 60 ltr bags, depending on potting mix you might like to add some sharp sand for extra drainage and of course the cheaper potting mixes will require extra fertilizers before planting

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21 Sep 19, Peter Devenny (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I also add a 20ltr mushroom compost and a 1 in 3 mix of sharp sand to help with the drainage to the 60ltr searles premium potting mix, i also use self watering pots for the more susepitable vegies to drying out. happy gardening :)

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15 Sep 19, Kathleen Foxwell (Australia - tropical climate)

I have planted shallot seeds. When they are due to be harvested they are only as thick as a piece of 8 ply wool. How do I make them grow bigger?

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16 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

For over 50 years my mother and I have always grown shallots from bulbs. Kept some bulbs from one year (from spring crop) for planting the next year - autumn into late winter. A lot of different people have different names for shallots. The way to have good thick stalks is to grow in full sun, plenty of fertiliser and water. If the leaves are a nice deep green colour all is right - if light green yellow - they need fertiliser.

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