[A Reyt Tayty]

I tried growing Red Sun shallots this year. Old style planting on the shortest day to harvest on the longest. They have done very poorly. Question: do I save them and try planting them next year, or will they be as poor as I got this year? Would it be better to use up the few that have made it to a useable state and get new sets in next year?

[DD.]

For the cost of new sets, I'd get new stock.

I plant in February and mine are still romping away. December always seems a bit early to me to be planting, especially with a long drawn out winter.

[GrannieAnnie]

I planted some small shallots from my own grown last year.  Won't bother again as each one only has 2or 3bulbs on it.

[Annen]

My shallots have done poorly this year too.  A lot just withered away early on and the few which did survive to bulb and divide, only went to 2 or 3 bulbs and small ones at that.  I think it must be the weather, the long cold spring that did it, most years I get a good crop.

[AnneB]

I grew Longor again.  They are almost ready.  I would say an average crop.   Not as good as last year which  was a great crop.

[Beetroot queen]

Mine are still growing away like mad. So no idea yet

[richie3846]

This is my 1st year at growing red sun shallots, so I'm a novice, but I bought a net at the end of March from Wilko's, threw them in the fridge until 6th April to trick 'em into thinking winter was still hanging around (which it was to be fair!), planted 'em out 6th April and today harvested a bumper crop, with between 6 and 15 shallots per bulb and 100% germination. I think this planting out early may be a waste of time. Try keeping them in a cool place, this has the same effect on the bulb, but without all the weather, frost, snow etc. They won't rot either.

[DD.]

Seconded re the planting early.

Same as most things!

[Annen]

My shallots have done poorly this year too.  A lot just withered away early on and the few which did survive to bulb and divide, only went to 2 or 3 bulbs and small ones at that.  I think it must be the weather, the long cold spring that did it, most years I get a good crop.

I checked my diary and I planted the shallot sets on 8th November!  I hadn't realised it was so early. I must've seen them in the shops and assumed that it must be the right time to plant if they are on sale.  I'll try later next year.

[DD.]

Annen - you may have picked up the tail end of autumn planted shallots that should have been in much earlier.

My local nursery will not have shallots or onion sets destined for spring planting in stock until January at the earliest.

[Auntiemogs]

Mine (Jermor - Autumn planted) have all flopped over so do I harvest now?  There are 6-8 shallots per cluster but they aren't very big...   Still, they are better then last year when I got them from Wilko and not one even sprouted...

[DD.]

If they've flopped, it's harvest time. They won't get any bigger.

It's been a funny old year! As usual.

[JayG]

I don't grow anything which "has" to be overwintered to get off to an early start because losses can be high and it's not necessary if you choose the right varieties.

My saved Mikor and Golden Globe shallots were planted at the end of February and after an uncertain start (especially the ones repeatedly dug up by fox cubs!) they are still romping away, with none bolting up to now.

OK, not an early crop but that was never going to happen this year, and they are for autumn/winter use so that's not a problem for me.

[DD.]

As said before, I'm with JayG on this one. Mine made it in on the last day of February, and there's been no stopping them!

[Sparkyrog]

No spring cabbage ?