Shallots: growing
Shallots have a wonderful taste, without unnecessary bitterness and pungency, and have medicinal properties. It does not rot during storage and does not germinate, so it is profitable to grow it. The people call this family onion, since it grows in the garden as a family – about a dozen young heads are obtained from one uterine bulb.
Features of growing shallots
Shallots have the same structure as onions. But since they grow in one nest, the weight of the largest of them does not exceed 50 grams.
Shallots grow in a nest of several small onions
Shallot feathers are narrow, very juicy and tender, it is good to plant it on greens. Popular varieties include:
- “A friendly family”;
- “Red dream”;
- “Cascade”;
- “Emerald”;
- “Chelyabinsk pink”, etc.
Shallots are prone to shredding after several years of cultivation and must be periodically restored by seed reproduction. Seeds are planted in early spring or autumn in grooves to a depth of about 2 cm. The distance between grooves is 10 or 15 cm. Autumn crops are not watered so that they do not freeze, they are mulched with peat or compost.
Planting and caring for shallots
Shallot heads are planted in spring in May, a distance of 20 cm is made between the rows, and about 10 cm between the onions. For planting for breeding, heads the size of a walnut are chosen. Before planting, the tops of the bulbs are cut off so that the greenery begins to grow faster. About a dozen new babies are formed from one uterine bulb.
Shallot prefers light, fertilized soils with neutral acidity. From autumn, it is good to add rotted manure or compost to the beds for digging. If the soil is acidic, it must be limed with wood ash.
A week or two before planting, the area can be treated with a fungicide to protect the onions from fungal rot. If you plant carrots between rows of shallots, these two plants will protect each other from pests.
Shallots are very easy to care for. He does not like abundant watering, and most often he has enough atmospheric precipitation. It is watered every week only in the first month after planting so that the young bulbs grow well. It is necessary to carefully weed the beds since spring; if they are overgrown with weeds, a rich harvest can not be expected.
Harvested onions in August or September when the green feather begins to dry out
During harvest, healthy bulbs from the nests, where they are larger and in greater numbers, are left for planting. The feather is not immediately cut off; during drying, the nutrients from it must pass into the bulb. After drying in a well-ventilated room, the tops are cut off, leaving necks 4 cm high. The onions are stored in a pantry or cellar, they can stand all winter in a warm, bright room and not deteriorate.
For growing, small bulbs the size of a quail egg are planted on greens in autumn and spring
It takes about a month from the moment the shallots are planted in the soil until the greens are obtained. Planting is done in several stages, at different times, so that you can always use a green feather for cutting.
When you grow shallots with care, you don’t have to worry about a bad harvest. Shallot is unpretentious, gives tasty greens, bulbs are well stored all winter.