[juvenal]

Just bought a packet of these from Aldi 75p for cooking with

Websites all say to grow Matador from seed, but what will happen if I buy another packet, and actually plant these as 'sets'? Or do F1 onions/shallots not grow 'true to type' if used as sets?

[sonnycbr]

Are Matador a banana shallot? I tried planting something similar a few years ago, bought from a shop, and they just rotted in the ground. I don't know if they were treated so as not to grow if planted.

[Salmo]

I suspect that these are not true shallots and will go to seed rather than splitting to produce multiple bulbs in their second year.

It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has grown them on.

[sonnycbr]

Just googled Matador and they are indeed a true shallot. I would say, nothing ventured nothing gained, and give them a try. .They look quite nice, I might buy a packet of seeds and try them next year. Good luck anyway.

[oldgrunge]

Re growing shallots from seed. One seed produces one shallot, they don't split.

[Salmo]

Re growing shallots from seed. One seed produces one shallot, they don't split.

Yes, but do they split if you then plant that one shallot again the next year.

[sonnycbr]

Re growing shallots from seed. One seed produces one shallot, they don't split.

Yes, but do they split if you then plant that one shallot again the next year.

'
I would say that in the case of Matador, they wouldn't divide and give several new bulbs. I had another look on Google and you get different pictures of Matador, depending on the seller.  I now think that they are a "banana" shallot, ie longer than true shallots. As they are a cross between a shallot and an onion, they will not split.

[Salmo]

They are not a banana shallot, they are round.

So called banana shallots should probably be called onions but I think the marketing men try to make them out to be cheffy. Because they are easily grown from seed they can be produced on a large scale for supermarkets.

[sonnycbr]

They are not a banana shallot, they are round.

So called banana shallots should probably be called onions but I think the marketing men try to make them out to be cheffy. Because they are easily grown from seed they can be produced on a large scale for supermarkets.
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As I said, on some sites they are shown as round shallots, on others they are more banana type.

[New shoot]

That picture is the one shown on the Victoriana Nursery website, but it doesn't look like the Matador I have grown from seed.  They are not banana shallots and are most definitely round, as Salmo says.

https://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/Shallot_Seed_Matador/

The picture doesn't match their own description of reddish brown skins either, so it may be a photo of an immature crop or just something else entirely.

Just bought a packet of these from Aldi 75p for cooking with

Websites all say to grow Matador from seed, but what will happen if I buy another packet, and actually plant these as 'sets'? Or do F1 onions/shallots not grow 'true to type' if used as sets?

For 75p, if you have nice round Matador shallots, I would buy another pack and try it Juvenal.  Let us know how you get on.  We might all be copying you next year