[mdjlucan]

there was a frost last night wood it be ok to put my shallots in to day or next week

[Ma and Pa Snip]

there was a frost last night wood it be ok to put my shallots in to day or next week

If the ground has surface frost on it as you dig it over all you are doing is making the soil underneath colder.

In my view get them done on a day when the ground is not frosted.

[mumofstig]

The frost has probably gone by now, (it has here) so it will be fine to plant them

[Christo]

Great advice there. Last year I was constantly re-setting by onions in the ground. Overall I lost 25% I reckon. I'll also try some fleese this year.

[DD.]

I agree with mum. With the current day time temperatures the frosts are very quickly gone. Get them in whilst you've got chance.

[missmenace]

On a related note. I've had my shallot sets in for a week or two, no sign of any growth yet but I know I probably need to be more patient.

My question is, I've been given a poly-type cloche/coldframe thing and was wondering if popping it over the shallot bed would help or hinder them?

Never had the use of one before so now I've got it assembled I got all overexcited and wanted to give it a whirl, but if its not going to help the shallots I'll pack it away again for a bit or think about sowing some stuff a little earlier in the empty bed.

[JayG]

Shallots don't really need such spoiling (unless the blackbirds are chucking them all over the place!)

Use your cloche for something which would benefit from a little extra warmth/be sown a bit earlier (e.g. parsnips?)

[missmenace]

Funny you should say that, as I sowed a few parsnips next to the shallot bed just the other day, but the cloche is too big to just go over the parsnip area, its all or nothing I'm afraid.

I haven't grown shallots before, decided to move away from onions this year and give them a whirl (makes sense to grow the expensive stuff) and have been reading that they don't mind the cold. But now I have the cloche I want to give it something to do.

I've got another bed that is 'in waiting' for various bits and bobs. You reckon I'd be better off just sowing some other stuff a bit earlier then?