Shallots

I remember someone once saying plant the on the shortest day of the year (which has obviously gone) and pick the on the shortest day   any one else do this or have put shallotts in yet as i'm debating putting my seed from this year in next weekend. 

the shortest day is not until December 21st, and you pick them on the longest in June


oops out by a day 

yes you can, but sometimes it's too cold to plant then

There's some advice here http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/medwyn-williams-vegetable-grow-show-70.html

I start my shallot seeds indoors around Christmas but don't plant them out until the weather is good for them. Indoor warmth keeps them growing until then. I pull them somewhere around late July, about a month past the longest day.

You can start shallot seeds at 3-4/cell but later you'll need to space them to one per cell if you expect them to grow and split.