{"id":2019,"date":"2020-11-06T11:24:18","date_gmt":"2020-11-06T11:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/?p=2019"},"modified":"2020-11-09T08:59:01","modified_gmt":"2020-11-09T08:59:01","slug":"how-to-grow-shallots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/how-to-grow-shallots\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Grow Shallots: A Simple Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shallots are a great addition to any vegetable patch. Smaller, and considerably sweeter than<\/a> the slightly harsh taste of a regular onion, they can be added to any dish as an onion substitute, or as part of the recipe in their own right. Shallots are a very rewarding crop to grow, as each bulb will produce at least four other onions – and there is a lot you can do with them. But how to grow shallots?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s delve a little deeper into the world of this small onion.<\/p>\n

What are shallots?<\/h2>\n

\"what<\/p>\n

A shallot is a member of the onion (Allium) family, and also shares roots (excuse the pun!) with Leeks, Chives and Garlic. The shallot originated in Asia, and travelled the globe thereafter, because of its sweet taste, versatility and ease of storage.<\/p>\n

Shallots grow in clusters – you plant one bulb and a multitude of new onions grow around it in a crown shape. Shallots are incredibly versatile; you can use them as an onion substitute in many dishes, and many recipes call for shallots by themselves.<\/p>\n

They are also great as pickling onions<\/a>, due to their small size and the fact that their delicate flavour doesn\u2019t overwhelm the vinegar they are pickled in.<\/p>\n

How to grow shallots<\/h2>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Growing shallots is very easy. You simply plant a few bulbs, then pretty much sit back and wait! As with any veg though, there are a few basic things that you need to consider:<\/p>\n

A. What to plant<\/h3>\n

Shallots can be grown from seed, but this is a much harder way of getting a crop – and shallot seeds can be hard to get hold of.<\/p>\n

Your best bet is to buy a \u201cset\u201d<\/em> – ie a bag of bulbs – from a garden centre or vegetable distributor. These will grow quicker and will be less hassle – you don\u2019t have to thin out seedlings or worry too much about pests if you go down this route.<\/p>\n

B. When to plant<\/h3>\n

You can start your shallot sets from as early as mid November<\/a> to as late as mid March. They can cope with variations in temperature better than some other veg, so don\u2019t worry that they might get too cold – however if there is a prolonged cold snap, you might wish to put fleece or mulch around the soil to keep them warm.<\/p>\n

C. How to plant<\/h3>\n

Push each bulb into the soil about 10 inches apart. Make sure you stick to the spacing – it may be tempting to squeeze more bulbs in, but they spread as they grow, and having them too close together can encourage disease.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t want to push them too deep – shallots grow best if their tips are left exposed, with the soil firmed up around their bases.<\/p>\n

When you first plant your shallots, you should cover them with fleece or some other type of mulch, because birds are very partial to a young onion, and may lift the sets and deprive you of your harvest.<\/p>\n

This is a useful video that shows you the best way of planting your shallots:<\/p>\n