[Missy1970]

Hi All

In my inexperience (my excuse and I'm sticking to it) looks like I've made a huge mistake with my shallots, I lifted them today as I thought they'd sufficiently gone over but after, I noticed some were still a little green, neighbours were very kind had a chuckle and pointed out I'd lifted them too early shook their heads a little more when they saw I'd cut the tops off so lesson learnt for next year.

Question is though can I still use them this year I had wanted to pickle them, they told me to leave them drying and see how they go - just hope they are not all lost

I am very impressed with my red onions though they are currently stinking out my shed

Missy

[Lupin lurcher]

Hi missy, I don`t know if there will be anyway of saving the shallots, I am sure if there is a way someone on here will be along soon to tell you.  Being my first year my lesson to be learnt is not to plant too much of the same thing at any one time, I planted about 50 little Gem lettuce all at once and have not been able to eat them quick enough now they are all going to seed.  Will stagger things over a period of time next year.

[Lewjam]

I would just dry em out and see what happens heh.

I dont expect it will be a total washout

[aelf]

my shallots have all keeled over now and are very small this year. Thinking of pickling them. Not a very good year for the onion family, I think

[viettaclark]

The foliage on mine has died back but the shallots are not even spring onion size! Onions are pretty feeble too.
Fed up with waiting so pulling them up and planting brassicas.
My garlic on the other hand, in the same bed, has done really well and I pulled 20 big bulbs this morning!

[Trillium]

One thing about curing onions is to always leave the leaves on until they're brown and the onion skin is papery, then you know it's properly cured. But if you're pickling them, you can skin them now and do the pickling as there's really no need to cure them since they won't be in storage.  Hopefully the red onions in the shed still have their leaves but if they're really stinking I suspect you've cut them off and the 'juices' haven't had time to dry out properly. I'd keep a regular eye on these in storage. 

[Missy1970]

Thanks everyone its a case of watch this space


Hi Trillium - I left the leaves on the red onions for some reason glad I did now I wish I could up loads pictures they are a pretty impressive size pretty strong tasting though.

As for my shallots they are pretty big also to be honest couldnt pickle some of them would only get 1 or 2 in the jar my neighbour though they were onions until I told her they were shallots hopefully they will keep for cooking

I'm sure this will not be my only mistake but hey ho they were only from the £1 shop so not an expensive mistake

Missy