Another lovely little allium I grow in my garden that is super easy care are bunching shallots. I don't know their proper variety name, as my first ones were given to me as bulblets by a friend, and I was simply told they were "bunching shallots." Mine are red-skinned and have a pinkish-tinge to the flesh.
Each year in late winter/early spring, I plant some bulblets in a row wherever I have space, saved from the previous year's crop. I bury them up to the neck in the prepared garden beds. When preparing my garden beds I usually add a spreading of compost, perhaps a sprinkling of rock dust and sheep pellets, and a fresh layer of woodchip mulch. I don't do anything special in addition to this for the shallots.
They sprout fine green leaves - similar to large chives in appearance. As the season progresses, the plant will develop a rosette of small shallot bulbs, held together at the bases. Mine usually number between 3 and 7 in a bunch. The bulbs tend to develop on or close to the soil surface - by the time the greens have died off completely, there is an easy to lift bunch of shallots just sitting there waiting.
After letting the harvested bulbs sit in a tray for a few days, I clean them up by removing a layer or so of the outer "skins" and trimming the roots, separating the bulbs at the same time. I then lay them out on a fresh tray, and leave them to finish drying somewhere cool and airy. I put the tray up on some blocks to ensure air flow underneath. They store pretty well - though best kept in cool, low humidity conditions. If only I had a root cellar!
They sprout fine green leaves - similar to large chives in appearance. As the season progresses, the plant will develop a rosette of small shallot bulbs, held together at the bases. Mine usually number between 3 and 7 in a bunch. The bulbs tend to develop on or close to the soil surface - by the time the greens have died off completely, there is an easy to lift bunch of shallots just sitting there waiting.
After letting the harvested bulbs sit in a tray for a few days, I clean them up by removing a layer or so of the outer "skins" and trimming the roots, separating the bulbs at the same time. I then lay them out on a fresh tray, and leave them to finish drying somewhere cool and airy. I put the tray up on some blocks to ensure air flow underneath. They store pretty well - though best kept in cool, low humidity conditions. If only I had a root cellar!
Shallots are well worth growing - start with a few bulblets purchased or from friends, and then build up your numbers by saving a few more each year to plant.
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