Store bought shallots

[pmcgrady]

An older gentleman gave me a 3 lb bag of golden shallots last year to plant, they did well. They were about ping pong ball sized to golf ball sized and taste great. Today I went to a Dierburg's and they had big torpedo shaped shallots for$3.99/lb, white garlic was $4.99/lb. I didn't check if the garlic was from China or California.
I can't order shallots like these, and pay for shipping, for $3.99/lb,
So I decided to plant them.


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[oakley]

I just found the same...last month, torpedo shaped and from California in my
local market. I would say this is a first...we buy shallots all winter
and never had these. I'll plant a few as well.

[velikipop]

I started some store bought shallots a month ago in four inch pots and now they are in my garden beds. Look forward to the harvest later this summer.

Alex

[pmcgrady]

Local sold Shallots look so bad, I wouldn’t think of eating or planting them. $6.99/lb though. If it calls for it in a recipe, somebody’s going to buy it..

[velikipop]

The ones available here are very good quality but the prices are crazy, anywhere from $1.99 to $4.99 per lb.

[matereater]

Have never grown shallots before, but why plant an old one to get a new one ? Do they give you multiple bulbs off 1 plant ??

[pmcgrady]

Originally Posted by matereater

Have never grown shallots before, but why plant an old one to get a new one ? Do they give you multiple bulbs off 1 plant ??

Yeah you may get 5-10 bulbs off of the one planted.

[Father'sDaughter]

Originally Posted by matereater

Have never grown shallots before, but why plant an old one to get a new one ? Do they give you multiple bulbs off 1 plant ??

Yes, depending on the variety and growing conditions, they will multiply underground. I plant them in the fall along with my garlic and they do well.

[bower]

I have shallots started from seed this year. The seeds were collected from torpedo shaped shallots sold for planting by McKenzie seeds... very nice looking. Will be interesting to see if they are the same shape or whether they are a hybrid with other shape onboard. As long as they are multipliers, I'll be happy.

[Worth1]

"Store bought" seems to be the language of the commoners.
The upper class hill folk prefer to call it merchant sourced.

Worth

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by bower

I have shallots started from seed this year. The seeds were collected from torpedo shaped shallots sold for planting by McKenzie seeds... very nice looking. Will be interesting to see if they are the same shape or whether they are a hybrid with other shape onboard. As long as they are multipliers, I'll be happy.

Bower, do you find that seed sown shallots form singles sort of like garlic or do they multiply first season?
I’ve never tried from seed, interested in your experiences
KarenO

[Father'sDaughter]

I got mystery shallot seeds from Gary (Tormato) a few years ago, but they got mixed up with my torpedo and round shaped red onions (also grown from seeds) in the seedling stage, so I was never sure which were which.

There was no multiplying, so without being able to identify the shallots it wasn't worth trying to plant any again in the fall.

I did have a round shallot go to seed two years ago and I saved a bunch of them. This year I'm growing just those skipping onions and there will be no chance of a mix up! I'm expecting to harvest single bulbs this year and will save some to replant in the fall.

[ChiliPeppa]

I'm not sure but these shallots look to me like the type that do not multiply. In other words, the type grown from seed. For me growing shallots is so worth it. Save a few each year for planting back in the fall, and harvest a large crop when they are ready. The best I've found are the pink shallots.

[bower]

Originally Posted by KarenO

Bower, do you find that seed sown shallots form singles sort of like garlic or do they multiply first season?
I’ve never tried from seed, interested in your experiences
KarenO

Haven't tried this before, but from what I've read, they will make singles from seed, then multiply when you plant them for the second year.

It does depend though, on how the hybrids are made - if they are hybrids. It seems likely they are, just because the classic type of shallots grown from bulb divisions rarely produce seeds.

Mind you, this is strictly "so I'm told" I can't claim any personal experience as yet. In fact, the round yellow "shallot" which I got from William Dam did produce seeds in my friend's garden, the same year they were planted come to think of it. Stress is a factor, variety too I guess.
Those yellow shallots were not too winter hardy for me, btw... only a few survived. I may pop those in somewhere in the spring if they're still good and hard. I may have to try planting the other type in spring as well.

[pmcgrady]

Originally Posted by ChiliPeppa

I'm not sure but these shallots look to me like the type that do not multiply. In other words, the type grown from seed. For me growing shallots is so worth it. Save a few each year for planting back in the fall, and harvest a large crop when they are ready. The best I've found are the pink shallots.

I did a little research, the Shallots I bought they look like Zebrune (banana shallot). A couple websites say they multiply... 3-5 per bulb, others say they are grown from seed. But no one has Zebrune sets for sale, only seed. I’m guessing when I plant these, they will go to seed, instead of multiply. Film at 11...