[thestens]

I have had a good crop of shallots this year. I grew them from sets and each one produced at least 5 shallots. My allotment is at a pub and part of my produce goes to the restaurant kitchen. The chef has asked that next year I grow 'banana' shallots. I have never grown these so any recommended varieties and should I go for seeds or sets?

[sunshineband]

Go for sets, as growing from seed is tedious imho and sets, altough more expensive, still give a good return for your money.

Banana just means they are long not round

I grow Jermor, which are an autumn planting variety, and Eshchalote Gris, which I plan in the Spring. These last ones are pinkish inside

They both taste good 

[compostqueen]

I bought some" banana" shallot sets from Wilko but they all came to nothing They were actually Vigamor  but were not labelled. I phoned up and asked 

I like Jermor and Longor and grow lots of these very successfully.  Great in the kitchen.

I was disappointed with Eschalote Gris. They look small, grey and very fiddly in the kitchen

[davesellars]

I grew Vigarmor this year - they were superb and also a decent size so not at all fiddly.

[AnneB]

I have grown Jermor before.  They were OK.  This year I grew Longor and they have been superb, a massive crop in a difficult year.  I agree that growing from sets is by far the easier option.

[MyAchingBack]

I grow Jermor, which are an autumn planting variety, and Eshchalote Gris, which I plan in the Spring. These last ones are pinkish inside

They both taste good 

Is there a risk that the autumn planting variety could rot?

[Malturn]

I have grown Jermor for the last 2 years and start them off in mushroom boxes (free from your local market) in the greenhouse during Februay then plant out end of march or begining of April and Have had fantastic crops bouth years.
Malcolm