[Lardman]

Errrrmmm - I may have made a little error in judgment.  (Stop laughing at the back)

I now need to dry 30 Garlic bulbs and 3 buckets full of shallots - oops.  I had planned on using the old chicken run mesh sides but I soon ran out of space on those.  So lets see your drying racks or any other methods you have of drying row upon row of alliums out.

I am right in thinking they have to be dried at least a little before I can string them up aren't I ?

[Salmo]

They need to be dried more than a little. When you think they are dry then dry them some more. That is the secret of making onions and shallots keep well. Most failures are due to some damp still in the neck setting up moulds.

[bailey]

i don,t bother with shallots just onions

but i hang mine like my washing on the line! well a spare line anyway

[Lardman]

They need to be dried more than a little. When you think they are dry then dry them some more.

Oh .... mmmm I'm going to need more space then.  Might have to construct some undercover drying racks outside then as Its rather wiffy with garlic hanging in the utility.   

[Rangerkris]

Do shallots need drying before pickling or can they just be done when come from the ground?

[BobandJack]

When people hang them up outside what happens when it rains?  Does it make a difference to the actual plant drying out?  I have my shallots hanging up in the downstairs loo & it reeks - just as well there's no door on it - don't ask 

[bailey]

not sure how others do theirs,, as said mine are hung on a washing line, which is in the polytunnel and any extras are hung in the garage,, though i think the garage may get more this year as the onions seem to dry better in the garage!!

[matron]

We use the mesh on top of the chicken run as well and then we use the shelving that comes with the plastic greenhouses. We don't use the covers that come with them but the shelves are used all over. In the greenhouse (proper) for seedlings then outside when the seedlings need going outside and then to dry the onions on 

[Lardman]

Do shallots need drying before pickling or can they just be done when come from the ground?

They're not for pickling - mainly as thats far too much hassle. I made a big dent in them yesterday and roasted a tray full. They were yummy, the insides just squeezed out like onion puree.

When people hang them up outside what happens when it rains? 

It absolutely hammered down here last night - needless to say the shallots that were outside are now wetter than when I lifted them.     I don't have a garage so Im a bit stuck. I can live with the house having a slight garlic aroma but garlic and onion. You'll need HazzMat gear to enter the front door 

[Elcie]

Here is mine, can even bring it indoors when rain is on its way!

[Lardman]

Wish my onions looked like that 

I've got 2 of these outside on the patio at the moment. But I've got another row of shallots and 3 rows of onions yet to lift.

[DD.]

Don't like to day this, Lardman, but those onions don't look ready to lift yet. Appears the stems haven't flopped over yet.

Are they spring planted sets? We've been talking about winter ones here.

[Lardman]

Don't like to day this, Lardman, but those onions don't look ready to lift yet. Appears the stems haven't flopped over yet.

They're shallots  They're not quiet ready although most did separate from the plant if i looked at them funny.

With all the problems with the leaf miner I wanted to lift them before any more damage was done, if they were all wasted I still had time to re-use the space. As it turns out there was no / very little damage to them.

The onions need another 3-4 weeks but if they're all wasted then I've only lost 4ft rather than the 18ft of garlic / shallots and onions I thought I had.

[whippersnapper]

Just spent the afternoon digging up my shallots and hanging them inside. Was fun for the first 20mins and then....zzzzzzzz