Companion planting shallots
Companions for Planting With Shallots | Home Guides
By Caryn Anderson
Minimize your need to use pesticides or herbicides in your vegetable garden with companion planting, a method that groups beneficial plants together to repel harmful insects, attract beneficial insects, and optimize plant growth. Shallots grow 1 to 3 feet tall and are hardy in Sunset's Climate Zones 14 through 17. As members of the onion family, shallots repel pests including fruit tree borers, aphids, weevils, moles and some nematodes, making them ideal companions for other crops that are susceptible to these pests.
Cabbage
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All members of the cabbage family grow well with shallots and other types of onions. Like shallots, cabbage is a cool weather crop that can be planted in early spring. They grow well in areas that get full to partial sun, and have nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Plants grow to heights of 10 to 24 inches, with a spread of 12 to 30 inches.
Chamomile
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Grow German chamomile (Maticaria recutita) to improve shallots' growth and enhance their flavor. German chamomile is an annual herb that grows well in gardens that receive full sun exposure. Plants grow to heights of 8 to 32 inches. German chamomile blooms with dainty, white daisy-like flowers from summer through fall. Chamomile may self-sow. Gardeners should only plant one plant for every 150 feet of garden space.
Beets
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Beets are biennial plants that feature edible roots that mature in colors such as pink, purple, orange and deep red. Like shallots, beets grow best in cool seasons and can be planted in late winter or early spring for early summer harvest. Plants grow 1 to 2 feet tall, with a spread of 6 to 12 inches.
Carrots
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Shallots repel the carrot fly, a garden pest that can attack and destroy young carrot plants. Also known as garden carrots, these biennial plants feature edible tap roots that are harvested before plants flower, usually within 50 to 75 days after planting. Full sun and nutrient-rich soil make ideal growing conditions for carrots.
Tomatoes
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Shallots provide protection for tomatoes from red spiders. No matter which variety gardeners choose to grow, tomatoes prefer well-draining, slightly acidic soil and full sun exposure. These vining plants are technically short-lived perennials, but are usually grown as an annual. Plants grow to heights of 3 to 9 feet, with a spread of 3 to 4 feet. After planting, most varieties need some support from a stake or trellis.
Strawberries
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Garden strawberries grow on trailing stems and feature sweet, red, edible fruits that grow well near all members of the onion family since onions help control many of the pests that plague strawberry plants. Plant strawberries in sunny garden spots that have rich, well-draining soil. Plants grow 6 to 8 inches tall, with a spread of 1 to 2 feet.
References
- Harvest to Table: How to Grow Shallots
- Garden Toad: Garden Toad's Companion Plant Guide
Writer Bio
Caryn Anderson combines extensive behind-the-scenes writing experience with her passion for all things food, fashion, garden and travel. Bitten by the travel bug at the age of 15 after a trip to Europe, Anderson fostered her love of style and fashion while living in New York City and earning her degree at New York University.
Best Varieties, Planting Guide, Care, Problems, and Harvest
I learned about shallots when I got my first CSA basket years ago. I encountered a slew of vegetables that I had never heard of before, shallots included. In my household, shallots were often the name given to sliced green onions. Now that I know the difference, I always have shallots growing in my garden.
They look like onions, smell like onions, and taste rather onion-y, but shallots aren’t onions. Though they’re often called multiplier onions, shallots are in fact an onion relative (they’re part of the allium family of vegetables).
These gourmet onion-like veggies resemble small onions. Cook them, and they’ll infuse a delicate onion flavor into whatever dish you’re cooking. Be prepared to cry when slicing shallots! They’re little but mighty and can induce tears from even the toughest of cooks.
If you’ve grown onions, you’ll have no problem cultivating shallots.
The Difference Between Shallots and OnionsIf you’re puzzled and scratching your head, don’t worry. I’ll admit it’s a bit confusing! Shallots look a lot like small onions, so why are they different?
The green portion of the shallot plant has a strong resemblance to the shoots of bunching onions or scallions. The flavor is similar, too. The main difference is in the appearance of the bulb. Instead of a single uniform bulb, shallot bulbs are similar to garlic. The bulbous clove-like formation, however, isn’t connected like that of garlic. Shallots, unlike most onions, typically have an oblong sort of shape. They also have a thick outer skin that varies in coloration from red to tan.
How are they different?
- Growth habit: shallots grow in clusters, unlike onions, which form uniform bulbs.
- Sweetness: shallots are a little sweeter than onions.
- Mild taste: the flavor of shallots is milder than that of onions.
How are they similar?
- They both belong to the allium family.
- Both plants have a similar (though, distinct) flavor.
- You can use both raw or cooked.
- They’ll both make you cry.
- They’re both offer up health benefits, including lowering blood pressure.
The most common type of shallot found at the grocery store is the red-skinned variety, but there are a few other kinds of note.
- French-Italian: This type of shallot usually has red-tinged skin. They also have uniform bulbs, and their flavor is mild — somewhere in between garlic and onion. Varieties include ambition, atlas, creation, French red, and pikant. These types of shallots mature within about three months. They are not the best choice for long term storage compared to other varieties of shallots.
- Welsh shallot: These are best for harvesting green tops. Sub-types include Louisiana evergreen.
- Gray shallot: Often thought to be the superior tasting shallot, this type produces large bulbs with greyish skins. They require a longer growth period than French shallots and are also not the best choice for long term storage.
- Dutch shallots: These types of shallots have a more pungent flavor than other varieties. Their skin is usually yellowish or tan, and the bulbs are typically rounder compared to other varieties. They’re an excellent storage variety. Varieties include chicken leg and Dutch yellow.
Planting Shallots
While shallots and onions have a few notable differences, they both grow in mostly the same way. Like onions, shallots can be grown from seed or sets. Sets are more common since they’re easier and quicker.
Growing Zones
Shallots grow well in zones 3-10.
Soil Requirements
Shallots prefer soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. They do best in loose, well-drained, fertile earth.
Sun Requirements
Shallots need full sun to partial shade.
Timing
Put plants in the ground 2-3 weeks before the last frost date when temps are above 32°F.
You can also put them in the ground in the fall, but growers should mulch to protect the shallots — similar to how you would deal with fall-planted garlic.
In the spring, growers should also mulch if planting early in the season to protect shallots from cold snaps. But sets can be planted as soon as the soil is workable in the spring.
Spacing
When planting, space shallot transplants or sets about 4 to 6 inches away from one another at about 2-inches deep in the soil. Choose similarly sized sets when planting for a uniform harvest. Choose larger bulbs, if possible, as you would with onions. Bigger bulbs produce larger mature shallots. Plant shallot sets as you would onion sets with the root tip down and the pointy end up.
If you’re planting square-foot-gardening-style, plant nine shallots per square foot.
Container Growing
It’s also possible to plant transplants from a nursery or grown indoors. Start seedlings at least a month prior to transplantation in the spring. If you’re short on space, consider planting shallots in a container. A small 8-inch container can accommodate at most three sets.
Caring for Shallots
WateringA shallow root system means that frequent watering is incredibly important. Keep an eye on the soil to ensure it doesn’t dry out. You’ll have more trouble keeping your shallots well-watered if they’re planted in sandy soil.
FertilizingIt’s vital that shallots have nutrients available throughout their growth. They’re heavy feeders, similarly to garlic, so feed them several times throughout their growth period.
MulchingMulch shallots in the late fall or early spring to protect the young plants from periods of extreme cold. Mulching also helps retain moisture and keep down weeds.
Succession plantingPlant sets every few weeks for a continuous supply of shallots. To keep sets fresh, store in the fridge between plantings.
PruningSome gardeners prefer to cut the tops of allium family plants to encourage the plant to focus its energy on produce a bulb. This practice isn’t necessary, but it can help with bulb growth. At the same time, cut the tops and enjoy them in a variety of dishes.
Problems and Solutions to Growing Shallots
The biggest challenge when growing shallots is disease, as few pests tend to target these plants.
As a general rule, don’t plant shallots where you recently planted any type of allium. Promptly remove diseased plants from the area to prevent the spread of disease.
It’s also essential to thoroughly weed shallot beds to prevent other plants from hogging all the moisture and nutrients.
White Rot
White rot is another common problem. By the time you see the yellowing foliage that indicates there’s a problem, it’s too late to do anything. Your best option is to buy certified disease-free stock, wash tools between use, and rotate your crops. If you have any infected plants, pull and destroy them.
Purple Blotch
Purple blotch is caused by a fungus that likes warm, wet weather. You’ll see elliptical brown or purple lesions on leaves, and plants may start to wilt. Avoid it by rotating your crops, sanitizing your tools, and keeping weeds at bay. You can also use fungicides to control it.
Leaf Blight
Known as onion blight or botrytis leaf blight, this fungal disease causes whitish leaf spots on older leaves and can cause the plant to die back. Destroy infected plants and use a fungicide to control.
Downy Mildew
The best way to prevent diseases like downy mildew from affecting your shallot plants is to practice crop rotation and ensure that tools and equipment are adequately stored and sanitized each season.
Cutworms
Cutworms are nasty little pests that can hide out in the soil over winter. They emerge in the early spring to nibble on plants at the base, severing the tops as they chew their way through. To control them, make cardboard plant collars, pick the maggots (it’s easiest to do this at night), and sprinkle diatomaceous earth around plants.
Onion Maggots
Companion Planting for Shallots
Shallots are an ideal companion plant for a multitude of garden fruits and vegetables, including:
- Cabbage
- Beets
- Chamomile
- Mint
- Sage
- Thyme
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Collards
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Lettuce
- Potato
- Savory
- Rose
- Carrots
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
Like other allium family plants, shallots are well-known for their pest repelling qualities. Few pests tolerate the pungent scent of alliums and are less likely to bother plants placed near shallots, onions, leeks, and garlic.
Don’t plant shallots next to:
- Broad beans
- Bush beans
- Pole beans
- Parsley
- Asparagus
- Gladiolus
Harvesting Shallots
You can harvest both the bulb and green growth of the shallot plant, so when you harvest depends on which part of the plant you intend to use. The greens are usually ready for harvesting after about a month or so. Use scissors to cut the tops and use them as a garnish, in stir-fries, or add them to omelets.
It may take up to 4 months for shallot bulbs to be ready for harvest. As with onions, bulbs should be cured before storing in a cool, dry location.
How do you know when the bulbs are ready for picking? It’s time to harvest shallots when the tops have browned and fallen oven.
If you have too many shallots on your hands, consider drying them or freezing them.
Cooking with Shallots
Like garlic, shallots must be peeled before use, but it’s not always easy to get that layer of skin off of the tasty edible bulb. To make removal easier, pour boiling water over your shallots, drain the water after about 10 minutes and then peel away. The process makes peeling easier because it softens the skin.
When chopping, slicing, or dicing shallots, use a sharp knife and start cutting with the root end still attached. This trick works with onions, as well.
My favorite way to combat tears when slicing shallots (and onions) is to wrap a scarf around my neck and wear wrap-around glasses or goggles. You’ll look a little weird, but it keeps the fumes from attacking your sensitive eyeballs. While cutting onions underwater works well, it’s a bit more challenging to do so with shallots since they’re so much smaller.
Use them sparingly. Sweeter than onions, shallots can be used in smaller quantities. Avoid going overboard when adding shallots to a recipe.
Use shallots to flavor vinaigrette. The sweetness and combination of onion and garlic flavor work tremendously well in salad dressings.
Use low heat. Low and slow is the name of the game when cooking shallots. High heat will easily burn these delicate vegetables.
Trust me, once you’re digging out the delicious results, you’ll be glad you took the time to grow shallots. Be sure to share your results with us in the comments.
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Yes Noplanting and care in the open field, growing from seeds
The herbaceous perennial plant shallot (Allium ascalonicum), also called shallot, old believer onion, bush, family onion, Ashkelon onion, charlotte, magpie, or kuschevka, is a member of the Onion family . The homeland of this variety of onions is Asia Minor, but today it is widespread in Moldova, Western Europe, Ukraine and the Caucasus. For food, young leaves of the plant are used, as well as its small bulbs, which are distinguished by their exquisite taste and good smell. To propagate such onions, the seed method is used, while the seeds are sown in open ground in spring or late autumn. In winter, its bulbs are planted for forcing in order to get greenery. For a long time, people have known that such a culture has medicinal properties. 9Ol000
- 4.1 Watering
- 4.2 Fertilizing
- 4.3 Pests and diseases of Luka-Shalot
- 7. 1 Useful properties of shallots
- 7.2 Contraindications
Brief description of cultivation
- Landing . In order to get greens in May, shallots are planted in open soil in March-April. And in order for the greens to be already in April, they resort to winter sowing, which is carried out in mid-October.
- Illumination . Needs plenty of bright sun light.
- Primer . The earth should be nutritious, loose, neutral and moderately moist. Musty loamy or humus-sandy soil is best suited.
- Watering . During the growing season, the bushes are watered at least 3 times. When 30 days remain before harvest, all watering should be stopped. During a long dry period, shallots should be watered once every 7 days.
- Fertilizer . For top dressing, mineral fertilizers and organic matter are used. 4 weeks before harvesting, onions are no longer fed.
- Reproduction of . Shallot is grown from seeds, and it is also propagated by sevkom (vegetatively).
- Harmful insects . Onion flies.
- Diseases . Powdery mildew, peronosporosis (downy mildew), fusarium wilt and neck rot.
- Features . Such a medicinal plant belongs to dietary products.
Features of shallots
Shallots are herbaceous perennials that form nests, which is why they are also called multi-bearing or family. The fibrous root system branches out weakly, it is located in the arable layer. Hollow thin tubular cone-shaped sheet plates remain tender for a long time. Feathers can be painted in various shades of green, in some cases there is a coating of wax on the surface of the foliage. On the surface of slightly elongated bulbs there are thin scales. The mass of onions, as a rule, varies from 20 to 50 grams, but there are hybrid varieties in which the bulb weighs from 90 to 100 grams. As a rule, the inner scales are white with a pink, purple or pale green tint. The color of the covering scales can vary from purple to white.
Bulbs are perfectly preserved in room conditions until sowing in spring. These onions, grown in regions with a warm climate, usually have a dark color and semi-sharp taste. In regions with a cool climate, shallots are often cultivated, which have a sharp taste.
A loose umbellate inflorescence is placed on an arrow, which can reach a height of about 100 cm, it consists of flowers that do not represent any decorative value. The seeds are similar to the seed material of onions, but they are smaller in size, they remain viable for two to three years. Vegetative propagation of shallots is the most popular, however, after some time, the onions lose their varietal qualities, and they also show a gradual accumulation of diseases, which has an extremely negative effect on productivity. To fix this, you need to buy fresh material for planting, or you can grow seedlings from seeds with your own hands. When seeds are sown during the first year of growth, a multi-primary bulb is formed (similar to garlic), which breaks up into 5 bulbs. If they are planted at the beginning of the next season, then they form nests consisting of more bulbs.
Shallot agricultural technology - a full cycle from planting to storage
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Planting shallots in open ground
When to plant
Planting shallots on turnips. Planting bulbs in open soil is carried out in March-April after the soil on the site warms up well, in this case, cutting greens can be done as early as May, and the turnip will grow in June. Thanks to the winter planting of shallots, you can get greens even earlier. The landing is carried out in mid-October in such a way that the bulbs have time to take root well, but do not start growing. Greens on such an onion will grow in April, while the turnip will grow in June. In order to have vitamin greens on your table even in winter, the onions are planted for distillation at room conditions.
Soil
For planting, choose a well-lit area, and since this plant can easily cross with onions, try not to place their beds close to each other. For such a culture, nutritious loose soil is suitable, which, moreover, should be neutral and moderately moist. Preparation of the site for shallots is carried out in advance. Best of all, such a culture grows on moist humus-sandy loamy or light humus soil.
If spring planting is planned, then site preparation is done in autumn. To do this, all weed grass is removed from it, and then digging is carried out to a depth of 20 to 25 centimeters with the simultaneous introduction of 1 tsp into the soil. superphosphate, 2-3 tbsp. l. wood ash, 3-4 kilograms of humus or compost and 1 tsp. urea per 1 square meter of beds. In the spring, before planting, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied to the soil (25 grams per 1 square meter of land). If the landing is planned for autumn, then the preparation of the site should be done in the summer.
Good and bad predecessors
In order for shallot cultivation to be successful, crop rotation must be followed. Good predecessors for such a plant are: cucumbers, zucchini, legumes, tomatoes, potatoes and cabbage. And those areas where corn, garlic, sunflower, beets and carrots were previously grown are not suitable for planting this onion. However, experienced gardeners recommend placing beds with carrots and shallots next to them, since these vegetable crops are able to protect each other, so the smell of shallots can scare away carrot pests and vice versa. And next to the shallot garden, it is recommended to grow strawberries, radishes, various types of lettuce and cucumbers. In the area where the shallot grew, it can be grown again no sooner than after 3 years.
Planting rules
Planting material needs pre-sowing preparation. First you need to sort it. Bulbs weighing about 30 grams and reaching 30 mm in diameter are considered the best, as they form a larger number of onions. Smaller bulbs have a lower yield, so they are recommended to be planted before winter. Larger bulbs form an excessive number of small bulbs.
When about 7 days remain before planting in open soil, to prevent fungal diseases, including downy mildew, the planting material is heated in warm water (from 40 to 42 degrees) for 8–10 hours. This may not be done , then just before planting the bulbs in the ground for 30 minutes. immersed in a solution of potassium permanganate or a fungicidal preparation.
Bulbs are planted in a previously prepared groove, keeping a distance of about 10 centimeters between them. If small onions are planted, then the distance between rows should be from 8 to 10 centimeters, for medium ones - from 15 to 18 centimeters, for large ones - from 20 to 30 centimeters. Planting is carried out in moist soil, while after planting the bulbs should be in the soil at a depth of 20 to 30 mm. With a deeper planting, there is a delay in the growth of foliage and a decrease in yield, but if the bulbs are planted at a shallower depth, they will stick out from under the ground. When shallots are planted, the surface of the bed is covered with a layer of peat or humus. In order for the greens to appear as soon as possible, immediately before planting the sevka, it must be cut to the shoulders, but it must be borne in mind that in this case, the yield of both turnips and greens will decrease.
Planting onions in autumn before winter. Sevok Radar Holland. Shallot bush. Details of onion planting
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Winter planting
Shallots are planted in open soil in autumn in the same way as in spring. Then the surface of the bed should be covered with a layer of mulch (peat), the thickness of which should be from 35 to 40 mm. Remember that during the winter planting, the bulbs are deeper into the ground than during the spring.
Although such a culture is distinguished by its frost resistance (it can withstand frosts down to minus 20 degrees, while after complete freezing it retains vitality), it is still recommended to plant before winter only in the southern regions. The fact is that in the middle latitudes, in Siberia and the Urals, it is likely that with this method of planting, about half of all bulbs will die from frost. But those bulbs that were able to survive in the ground in the winter, form more foliage, compared to those bulbs that were planted in the spring. After winter planting, green leaves begin to grow immediately after the snow cover melts.
Growing shallots from seeds
If only bulbs are used for propagation of shallots for several years, this can cause the bulbs to be crushed, yields will decrease significantly, and also in this case, there will be a gradual accumulation of diseases. Experts advise, in this regard, to renew planting material once every 10–15 years, for this, new bulbs are grown from seeds. From the seeds sown in the spring, the sowing will be formed in September. It is a small nest, which includes small onions. They can be used as planting material next season.
Caring for shallots
Growing shallots in your garden is very easy. To do this, it must be weeded, watered in a timely manner, loosen the surface of the soil around the bushes during the period of intensive growth, feed it, and, if necessary, protect it from harmful insects and diseases.
Loosen the surface of the bed regularly 1 or 2 times in 7 days, and in order to prevent the defeat of bushes by viral diseases, which today are incurable, it is necessary to remove weeds from the site in a timely manner and fight harmful insects. In the first days of July, seedlings should be thinned out, in which case the bulbs will be larger. During this period, it is recommended to suspend watering and top dressing, otherwise the bushes will actively grow greens, and not bulbs. As soon as the arrow appears, it must be broken out, do not allow it to grow longer than 10 centimeters.
Watering
On average, during the entire growing season, a bed with such onions is watered at least 3 times. Most bushes need moisture at the beginning of the growing season. When there are 30 days left before harvesting, you need to stop watering the garden bed completely. When moistening a site with shallots, one must adhere to this principle - to prevent excessive drying of the soil. If it often rains in the summer, then the number of waterings should be reduced, and in a protracted drought, on the contrary, this procedure is carried out more often. If there is a drought under the condition of high cloudiness, then watering is carried out 1 time in 7 days.
Fertilizer
In order to get a good shallot harvest, it must be fed in time. To feed such a plant, you can use organic matter, for example, a solution of mullein (1:10) or bird droppings (1:15). You can also use a solution of complex mineral fertilizer for top dressing (40 grams per 1 bucket of water). When there are 4 weeks left before harvesting, all top dressing is stopped, otherwise the bushes will not grow bulbs, but greens. In order to increase the size of the turnip, experienced gardeners advise, when the nest is fully formed, rake the ground from it and remove all small bulbs along with herbs that can be used for cooking or for freezing.
Pests and diseases of shallots
If the weather is damp and cool, then there is a high probability that the onion will be affected by a fungal disease, namely: downy mildew (peronosporosis), neck rot, powdery mildew or fusarium wilt. All affected bushes are dug up and destroyed immediately after their discovery, while the remaining healthy plants must be treated with a solution of Mikosan, Quadris or Pentofag. Remember that shallots sprayed with chemicals should not be eaten for some time (the duration of exposure to toxic substances can be found in the instructions for use of the product). In order to prevent fungal diseases, planting material is immersed in a solution of Maxim for half an hour immediately before planting. If next season you need shallot seed material, then before sending it to storage in the fall, it is also processed by Maxim.
An onion fly can harm such an onion, which can appear on the site during the flowering of cherries and dandelions. The bushes on which the fly has settled begin to rot and wither. In order to get rid of such a harmful insect, it is recommended to dust the bushes and the surface of the beds with wood ash. If worms appeared on shallots, then in order to get rid of them, it is recommended to spray the foliage of the plants with saline solution (1 tablespoon of salt per 1 bucket of water).
The onion nematode, which contributes to the curvature of the bottom of the parent bulb, is capable of severe damage to this crop. If an onion infected with such a pest is planted in a garden, this can lead to the defeat of other bulbs. Before planting such bulbs in the ground, they should be kept for several minutes in a Formalin solution (4%) or warmed up for 60 minutes by placing them in a thermos filled with warm (about 45 degrees) water.
Garden aphids can settle on the delicate foliage of such onions. If there is a lot of such a pest on the site, then this can become a rather serious problem for the gardener. To combat aphids, various folk remedies are often used, for example: a decoction of potato peel, pepper or pharmacy chamomile. You can also use acaricides for this purpose, for example, Verticillin, which does an excellent job with aphids that have settled on shallots.
Diseases of shallots and prevention of infection
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Harvesting and storing shallots
Harvest the shallots in a timely manner, because if they are in the soil for too long, they can germinate. As soon as more than ½ of the foliage dries up, you can start digging nests. The bulbs removed from the soil are placed for several days in a shaded place for drying. Then the dried leaves are cut off, and the nests are disassembled into bulbs, which are poured into boxes, boxes or nets, and stored in a dry and cool place. If the foliage is not trimmed, then weave braids from the onion. With this storage, shallots retain their qualities for 5-7 months, but do not forget to systematically inspect vegetables in order to promptly remove those on which rot has appeared.
Such onions are also stored in a peeled form. To do this, the onions are peeled, cut into pieces, moistened a little and placed in the freezer for freezing. Frozen onions are poured into plastic containers, which are again put into the freezer for storage. You can freeze shallots the same way. This frozen onion fully retains its qualities.
Harvest shallots: how to harvest and preserve them in time
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Types and varieties of shallots
There are many varieties of shallots, which are divided into early ripening, medium ripening and late ripening. And the varieties are divided into sharp, peninsular and sweet, as well as by the number of onions in the nest and by the color of the covering scales.
Best early varieties
- Emerald . The rounded bulbs are covered with a brownish-pink husk, they weigh 20-30 grams. No more than 5 onions grow in one nest with semi-sharp white flesh.
- Snowball . This variety has excellent keeping quality. Dense egg-shaped bulbs weigh about 32 grams, white juicy pulp has a spicy taste.
- Sprint . This onion is one of the best early ripe varieties, it is resistant to downy mildew. The taste of large onions is spicy, they weigh about 40 grams. No more than 10 onions grow in one nest.
- Belozerets 94 . The grade differs in good keeping quality and high productivity. The shape of the bulbs is oval-round or rounded, they weigh an average of 21 to 27 grams. They are covered with a pale lilac husk with a yellowish tint, and their flesh is a sharp juicy lilac-violet color.
- Cascade . The variety has a high yield and excellent keeping quality. Bulbs of a broadly ovoid shape weigh about 35 grams. The color of the husk and juicy pulp is pink.
- Family . The grade differs in high resistance to diseases and semi-sharp taste. Round bulbs are covered with a brownish-yellow husk with a purple tint, they weigh about 22 grams, the flesh is white. No more than 3-4 bulbs grow in one nest.
- SIR-7 . This variety has excellent keeping quality and high yield. Bulbs of spicy taste weigh about 32 grams. In one nest grows 4-7 bulbs.
Even among gardeners such early-ripening varieties as: Zvezdochka, Mezhsezone, Siberian yellow, etc. are popular. This variety of semi-sharp taste is distinguished by a stable yield and excellent keeping quality. The shape of the bulbs is flat-round, and they weigh about 20-30 grams. 4-8 bulbs grow in one nest.
Quite often, such varieties of medium ripening are grown, such as: Chapaevsky, Uralsky 40, Ural violet, Garant, Gornyak, Afonya, Adreika, Large-Lubovichny, Kushchevka Kharkovskaya, Seryozhka, Sofokl, hybrids Atlas, Bonilla, etc.
Varieties shallots
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The best late-ripening varieties
- Kunak . The taste of this variety is semi-sharp. Bulbs are covered with a yellow husk, they have a flat-rounded or rounded shape. In one nest grows 3 or 4 bulbs.
- Robust . This variety of semi-sharp taste is resistant to bolting and decay. In one nest, 4–5 bulbs are formed, which can weigh 23–52 grams. They are covered with dry pink scales. Juicy pulp has a pale red color.
- Siberian amber . In one nest grows 6 or 7 flat-round bulbs with yellow covering scales and white flesh. On average, the bulbs weigh about 28-30 grams.
- Merneulsky (Bargalinsky) . High yield variety. Large bulbs of an elongated oval shape weigh 50–90 grams. The color of dry covering scales is yellow-pink, the flesh is juicy and white. 4-6 bulbs are formed in one nest.
- Vonsky . The variety is resistant to diseases and harmful insects, as well as to adverse growing conditions. In one nest, 3 or 4 onions weighing 30–70 grams are formed, the covering scales are red, and the flesh is white.
Shallot properties: harm and benefit
Health benefits of shallots
Shallots are very similar in composition to onions. The composition of bulbs and foliage includes essential oil, B vitamins, carotenoids and phytoncides. But there is less ascorbic acid, minerals and sugars in onions than in shallots. Such a bow still contains salts of phosphorus, iron, potassium, calcium, as well as cobalt, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, silicon, vanadium, titanium and germanium.
For a long time, in alternative medicine, this vegetable has been used to treat diseases of the eyes and stomach. In cooking, young bulbs and foliage of such a plant are used, both fresh and pickled. Shallots are more subtle than onions, making them highly prized in French cuisine, added to soups and sauces for flavor, and added to game and poultry delicacies.
Contraindications
Shallots should be used with caution for those who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract and the genitourinary system, as it increases acidity, which can cause irritation of the intestinal mucosa or difficulty urinating. You can’t eat such a vegetable with kidney and liver diseases, bronchospasm, constipation, pancreatic diseases, as it can provoke an exacerbation.
Why we need Shallots
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rules and scheme for planting outdoors
Shallots (another popular name - family) - an amazing culture that is very similar to onions, but with its own unique differences. Most often it is grown for cutting greens (and this is not surprising, this crop has very tasty, juicy greens). And the bulbs themselves are distinguished not only by good taste, but by excellent keeping quality, that is, safety, so you can easily save your crop for a long time.
Contents
- 1 What are shallots?
- 2 When to plant shallots in open ground in spring and autumn
- 2.1 Planting dates for family onions according to the Lunar calendar 2023
- 3 Where to plant family onions: choose a place for the garden
- good and bad predecessors
- 3.2 What to plant family onions next to: good and bad neighbors
- 3.3 How to prepare a bed for planting
- 4 Planting chart for family onions outdoors
- 5 Care for shallots after planting
- 6 How and when to harvest shallots
What is shallots?
Shallot is a type of multi-celled onion. It can contain from three to twenty splinters. Of course, the more daughter bulbs, the less weight they have. One parent bulb can produce up to seven daughter bulbs on average. It has an oblong oval, elongated shape.
Shallots also have other names: magpie, kvochka, Ashkelon onion.
Shallots are very similar to common onions (and their cultivation practices are generally similar). However, some differences can be distinguished:
- first of all, it differs in the shape of the turnip, it is divided into slices, that is, it has more smaller bulbs that form in the nest;
- the feathers of the family bow are more branched;
- shallots keep better than onion variety;
- is characterized by precocity, as a rule, it ripens already 65-80 days after planting (but onions need more time to ripen), and greens can be cut already after 25-35 days;
- greenery has a more subtle shape, while it has a more intense shade, waxy sheen (feather length is about 20-45 cm).
For comparison, shallot on the left and onion on the right:
Family onions are distinguished by high taste qualities, there is no bitterness in the pulp, there is a pleasant sweetness.
When to plant shallots in open ground in spring and autumn
You can plant family onions in open ground both in autumn (before winter) and in spring. The main benefits of planting in the fall are that you can see earlier greens and harvest up to two weeks earlier. However, if the winter is too cold, the onion may freeze. Therefore, in autumn it is better to plant in southern regions with mild winters.
In autumn it is optimal to plant the crop in the second half of October (in any case, this should be done 4 weeks before the first persistent frosts).
The best month to plant shallots outdoors in spring is April. The optimum temperature for the development of the root system is within 2-25 degrees Celsius. Greenery grows intensively at t 15-23 degrees. At the same time, onions are able to tolerate frosts down to -6. Conventionally, the following dates for planting family onions in the spring can be distinguished:
- in the Middle lane (Moscow region) - in mid-April;
- in Siberia, in the Urals, in the Leningrad region - at the end of April, at the beginning of May;
- in the South - you can plant at the end of March, at the beginning of April.
The deadlines for family onions according to the lunar calendar of 2023
Choose the deadlines for the landing of the Schalot on the lunar calendar of 2023:
- Favorable days:
- in March: 11-14, 11-14, 11-14, number 17;
- in April: 1, 8, 16, 27;
- in May: 7, 11, 17;
- in April: 6, 19-21;
- in May: 5, 18-20.
Where to plant family onions: choosing a place for beds Where should culture be planted? First of all, when choosing a place, you need to focus on the quality of the soil. The soil should be neutral in acidity, loose, light, fertile, moderately moist. The very place for the beds should be open, well lit by the sun (while full lighting is important throughout the day).
Never plant shallots in a bed with acidic soil, otherwise you will get yellowish greens, the taste of the onion and greens will leave much to be desired. Waterlogged areas should also be avoided.
Then to plant shallots: good and bad predecessors
When choosing a site for planting shallots, it is recommended to focus on the principles of crop rotation (that is, alternation of crops in territory and time).
Good predecessors of for family onions are: legumes, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes.
Bad predecessors of , after which it is not recommended to plant shallots, are: corn, garlic, beets, carrots. After such a culture, the soil becomes depleted in nutrients. If you still want to plant shallots in this area, you must first fertilize it well.
What to plant family onions next to: good and bad neighbors
Neighborhood with other crops plays an important role in the well-being of family onions, and it can be both beneficial and unfavorable.
A very good neighbor for shallots is
carrots (it is believed that it repels the onion midge, an unpleasant pest). You can grow a crop next to cucumbers, radishes, lettuce, garden strawberries.What should not be planted next to shallots? Definitely bad neighbors : spinach, turnips, broccoli, parsnips, legumes. They oppress the quok.
How to prepare the bed for planting
If the selected site does not sufficiently meet the requirements described above, it is recommended to prepare the bed in advance.
The area should be dug up with a shovel bayonet, while weed rhizomes, any debris, stones should be removed.
If the soil is not sufficiently nutritious, it is necessary to put well-rotted humus or compost under digging (about 4-5 kilograms per 1 square meter of bed).
If the earth is acidic, it must be deoxidized, for this you can add a special deoxidizer, or dolomite flour, wood ash.
A few days before planting it is necessary to thoroughly loosen the soil with a rake, level the surface.
Family onion planting scheme in open ground
Important!
In order for to harvest bulbs , shallots must be planted in spring. In this case, you need to take small onions (diameter about 2-4 centimeters).
To obtain feather , onions should be planted in autumn . To grow greens, you need to plant larger bulbs.
Scheme for planting shallots outdoors in spring:
- Prepare the bed and wait for the optimal time.
- Make grooves in the bed, about 6 cm deep, 30-40 cm apart between rows.
- Plant the bulbs in the grooves with the bottom down. The distance between the bulbs in the groove depends on their size:
- for very small ones - a gap of about 10 cm is optimal;
- for medium - 15-18 cm;
- for large ones - 20-30 cm.
- Fill the furrows with earth, while there should be a layer of earth 2-3 cm above the neck of the bulb.
Please note! Onions can be planted in autumn according to the same rules, but the garden bed must not be watered either before or after.
Shallot care after planting
To grow a good crop of shallots (whether planting for feathers or for bulbs), you need to take good care of the plants. At the same time, after the autumn planting, care is not carried out, all procedures should be carried out from the spring.
- For the entire growing season, it is necessary to water family onions only 2-3 times. First, watering is done at the end of May in dry weather, and then in June.
- Loosening is one of the most important elements for outdoor shallots. Row spacing should be loosened throughout the growing season. The procedure improves the supply of oxygen to the root system of the plant. It is enough to loosen to a depth of about 5 cm. It is especially important to do this during the growth of leaves in order to destroy the eggs of the onion fly.
- It is necessary to break out the arrows right at the base of the exit from the leaf axil. This must be done before they reach 10 cm in length. Otherwise, you will not get a normal quality crop.
- Be sure to remove weeds immediately , do not let them grow.
- Family onion responds well to top dressing. For one growing season, two such plant care procedures are sufficient: it is recommended to add potash fertilizer to this mixture (for example, potassium sulfate, it will be enough to dissolve half a tablespoon).
- The second feeding is carried out at the moment when the 5th leaf appears. During this period, it is necessary to apply a potassium-phosphorus fertilizer, for example, potassium monophosphate (1 teaspoon is diluted in a 10-liter bucket).
- Observe crop rotation, more specifically, plant onions in the same place no earlier than after 4 years.
- Follow the planting pattern and basic care instructions.
- Choose an area that is well ventilated.
- Do not abuse nitrogen fertilizers, strictly follow the dosage.
- Stop watering 2-3 weeks before harvest.
How and when to harvest shallots
Harvest dates are determined by the plants themselves. The main sign of crop maturation is lodging of leaves (more than 50 percent of all plants should heal).