[mdjlucan]

wen i put tham in to the grand will it be ok to put a flecc over tham

[mumofstig]

Yes, it will stop the birds pulling them out. You can take it off once they are firmly rooted.

[mdjlucan]

iv got a flat bed just lay it over an pin it down is that o k

[mumofstig]

Yes, but don't pull it too tight as they may grow a bit

[savbo]

John recommends water-filled 4t plastic milk bottles - they are heavy enough to hold the fleece down and don't rip it like pins

[DD.]

I just pull a bit of soil over them to cover the stalks. It soon drops away with rain and hoeing, by which time the bulbs have rooted.

[mdjlucan]

wen the best time to put then in the grang as still a bit cold at night

[mumofstig]

you can put them in now, they don't mind a bit of cold.

[mdjlucan]

be for i put them in the grand do i need to add any thing to the soil iv only add compost to the bed

[JayG]

A sprinkling of a general purpose fertiliser never goes amiss! 

[mdjlucan]

all so will i need to put a net over than

[JayG]

all so will i need to put a net over than

Birds (usually blackbirds) sometimes pull the shallots out before they have rooted so netting isn't a bad idea (you can take it off once they have started growing.)

[Salmo]

No need for netting unless you have cats which poop in any dry soil available.When I have planted my shallots with a whisp of the end showing I pull a little mound of soil over them to hide them from the birds. As the shallots establish and you get hoeing the mounds will fall away.

[HLS]

Something's pulled up four of mine (could be young onions - I forget offhand) and laid them in a pile at the side of the bed.  I thought they'd be reasonably safe when they'd got a bit of root, but it seems that 3-4 inches of shoot looks too tempting to ignore.  I don't know what it was so I don't know whether netting would help or not.

[mumofstig]

I've just merged both of mdjlucans shallot posts for clarity