A few years ago, my dad-in-law gave me a few shallot bulbs to grow on. Two varieties: ‘Hative de Niort’ and ‘Jermor’. I’ve been growing and saving a few for propagation every year since then, and this year I planted out eight of each variety.
A couple of the ‘Jermor’ didn’t do so well – dividing but then not growing on – but the rest grew really well, dividing and bulbing up a treat, turning the original 16 shallots into about 100 or so.
I lifted them today – with more thunderstorms forecast for this evening I didn’t want them to get soggy and go to mush – and they’re now drying in the greenhouse. The ‘Hative de Niort’ are at the top of this pic, and the slightly longer, thinner ‘Jermor’ at the bottom:
They’re both good storing varieties, so should last a few months in a cool, dark place… although there’s probably little chance of that, given how tasty they are.
How about you, do you grow shallots? Any recommended varieties I can add to the plot #59 repertoire? Let me know, via the comments.