The delicately spicy aroma of shallots is becoming increasingly popular in the kitchen. If you enjoy gardening, you can plant shallots in the spring with little effort and harvest your home-grown onions in the fall.
How to plant shallots correctly?
To plant shallots in the garden, plant onion sets from the seed trade in March or April about 5 cm deep and 20 cm apart in nutrient-rich, humus-rich, sunny soil. Ensure a consistent water supply, remove weeds and avoid flowering.
Favorable conditions for planting shallots
The best time to plant shallots is March or April. In zones with a mild climate, planting can also take place in autumn. The shallot cuttings survive the winter without any major problems and produce an earlier harvest. Although this type of onion can tolerate cold, it should be planted in a warm and, above all, sunny place. The warmer it gets during the growing season, the more daughter bulbs the plant produces.
The soil for the shallots is loose, nutrient-rich and humus. A generous dose of compost serves as starting fertilizer; no further fertilization is necessary. When planting the onions, make sure there is enough space between them, as the shallot forms real “onion nests” in the best case scenario.
How do you plant shallots?
So-called “onion sets”, which are available from seed shops, are usually required to plant shallots. Shallots from the discount store cannot be used for planting because these bulbs have been treated with agents that prevent germination.
The soil in the bed is prepared for planting by raking in compost. Then the onion sets are inserted 5 cm deep into the soil at a distance of around 20 cm. About a third of the shallot is sticking out of the ground. The individual rows are approximately 30 cm apart. During the growing season, ensure an even water supply. If there is too little moisture, the daughter bulbs cannot develop properly. In addition, the weeds should be removed regularly.
What to do when flowers form?
Some onion sets tend to produce flowers prematurely. This has a negative effect on the development of daughter bulbs. The best method to achieve a good harvest is to remove the flower heads immediately. If you pay attention to heat-treated seeds when planting, you can rule out unwanted flower formation right from the start.
Growing shallots from seeds
Of course, shallots can also be sown. The seeds develop slowly and weeds cover the small plants in no time. To avoid this, it is best to sow the onions in a seedbed. When the young onions develop the third leaf after 4 to 6 weeks, they can be planted outdoors. Extreme caution must be exercised here so as not to injure the young plants. Regular weeding ensures there is enough space. Growing shallots from seeds is a labor-intensive process and not suitable for the hobby gardener.
