[maddave]

I sowed some banana shallots back in April from sets  They said to harvest late summer, early autumn when the leaves go brown and fall over.  Well, the leaves have gone brown and fallen over!!  I pulled up a bunch today and they looked ok, but not sure what they should really look like as I have never grown them or eaten them!! I just bought them as the looked interesting!  They are massive in size; each shallot in the clump is about golf ball size.

I ended up digging the ones I pulled up back into a hole as I wasn't sure if I should be pulling them up or not. Is there any harm in having some now, or will they taste awful and I should leave the to mature a bit more?

[mumofstig]

As long as you didn't have to pull too hard, then they're ready, so harvest them 

If they're still firmly rooted, then loosen them by easing the fork under them and gently lifting the soil and bulbs slightly, then leave them to dry a bit where they are. Then lift them for use 

[maddave]

Yep, they practically jumped out when I lightly tugged on them. I'll pull them up tomorrow before work then and let the dry throughout the day.

Thanks for the advice.

[sunshineband]

Keep the smallest ones to plant next year too  Saves a bit of money too