BANANA SHALLOTS
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud
-
Shallot Man
- KG Regular
- Posts: 2668
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:51 am
- Location: Basildon. Essex
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 41 times
I found a French site that sells "Banana Shallots" : well the seed, but being unable to read French, I hit a problem ordering with my credit card [it would not accept a UK post code]To begin with I was not to worried as I had bought some Banana Shallots whilst in OSTEND, the trouble is they are running straight to seed, still I should have my own seed for next year. Which raises the point, are they really shallots, or onions ? SHALLOT MAN
Well, I'd say they're shallots personally, if they're what you bought !
I got my Banana Shallot Seed from the Barrington Shallot peeps (as advertised/reported on in the June issue of KG), and having consulted the forum, the general sensus of opinion was to wait till next year to sow the seed, which I shall do at the same time as my onions.
If that helps in any way...!
Wellie
I got my Banana Shallot Seed from the Barrington Shallot peeps (as advertised/reported on in the June issue of KG), and having consulted the forum, the general sensus of opinion was to wait till next year to sow the seed, which I shall do at the same time as my onions.
If that helps in any way...!
Wellie
Shallot man,
Of my banana shallots that I bought from France last year, about 60% are running to seed but that isnt a problem as I will have loads of seed for next year rather than paying £5 for 20 odd seeds. The ones that havent run to seed will be replanted next year in a separate bed to the ones grown from this years seed. The main thing is that they all look healthy, I cant wait to harvest the little grains of Black Gold
Of my banana shallots that I bought from France last year, about 60% are running to seed but that isnt a problem as I will have loads of seed for next year rather than paying £5 for 20 odd seeds. The ones that havent run to seed will be replanted next year in a separate bed to the ones grown from this years seed. The main thing is that they all look healthy, I cant wait to harvest the little grains of Black Gold
Hi piglet
if those shallots that have gone to seed are sown, will they not be genetically predisposed to premature bolting? We were taught that if you get premature bolting, don't use for propagating as their progeny would be liable to do the same.
I bought some banana shallots from the local shop planted them and never seen them again.
Pete
if those shallots that have gone to seed are sown, will they not be genetically predisposed to premature bolting? We were taught that if you get premature bolting, don't use for propagating as their progeny would be liable to do the same.
I bought some banana shallots from the local shop planted them and never seen them again.
Pete
skype me on pmrout
"To be a successful farmer, one must first know the NATURE of the SOIL" Xenophon , Oeconomicus 400 B.C.
"To be a successful farmer, one must first know the NATURE of the SOIL" Xenophon , Oeconomicus 400 B.C.
last year these were grown and were harvested, and this year have been replanted and as mentioned a good few have ran to seed.
I will sow these next spring and hopefully they should just bulb up (I have never had an onion or shallot grown from seed bolt, only sets). The ones that dont go to seed will be planted in a separate bed and hopefully one way or the other I will get a sustainable supply of them.
I will sow these next spring and hopefully they should just bulb up (I have never had an onion or shallot grown from seed bolt, only sets). The ones that dont go to seed will be planted in a separate bed and hopefully one way or the other I will get a sustainable supply of them.
Hi Piglet,
Have the Banana Shallots that have not gone to seed split into divisions as normal Shallots.
I am begining to think that they are best grown from seed as 'One Offs' and the seed that Wellie obtained, but will be growing next year, is maybe the way the French grow them. They certainly rather cagey about them. Have you managed to speak to a grower on your travels in France?
Hi Peat,
As a general rule you are very correct in what you say but if it is a case of growing from seed each year I am not sure if this is relevant or not.
This of course is if my thoughts turn into a reality.
If they, my thoughts, turn out to be correct I do not think that Banana Shallots are Shallots but in fact an Onion as was, I think, suggested by somebody else earlier on in the year.
I find this very interesting and would like to get this sorted out for sure.
You see Florence Long Red Onions are not quite the same size but have the mildness of Banana Shallots
and they do not have the make-up to allow them divide like Shallots and if you put one of last years crop in this year it would go to seed I feel sure.
Have the Banana Shallots that have not gone to seed split into divisions as normal Shallots.
I am begining to think that they are best grown from seed as 'One Offs' and the seed that Wellie obtained, but will be growing next year, is maybe the way the French grow them. They certainly rather cagey about them. Have you managed to speak to a grower on your travels in France?
Hi Peat,
As a general rule you are very correct in what you say but if it is a case of growing from seed each year I am not sure if this is relevant or not.
This of course is if my thoughts turn into a reality.
If they, my thoughts, turn out to be correct I do not think that Banana Shallots are Shallots but in fact an Onion as was, I think, suggested by somebody else earlier on in the year.
I find this very interesting and would like to get this sorted out for sure.
You see Florence Long Red Onions are not quite the same size but have the mildness of Banana Shallots
and they do not have the make-up to allow them divide like Shallots and if you put one of last years crop in this year it would go to seed I feel sure.
JB.
Hi Jb
Both the ones that are running to seed and the ones that aren't have divided like normal shallots do.
Only some of each clump has sent up a seed head, Can I harvest these or will the whole clump be best composted after collecting the seeds?
Both the ones that are running to seed and the ones that aren't have divided like normal shallots do.
Only some of each clump has sent up a seed head, Can I harvest these or will the whole clump be best composted after collecting the seeds?
-
Garlic_Guy
- KG Regular
- Posts: 171
- Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Bristol
- Contact:
So far this year, I have sowed some Florence long red onions from seed, which currently look like red spring onions and I guess will progress into single (longue) onions.
I also took a gamble and planted some Banana shallots I bought from my local Indian store. These are fantastic for cooking with and so far, despite being planted in late April, have a huge stack of leaves on them.
I'll let you know how they turn out.
I also took a gamble and planted some Banana shallots I bought from my local Indian store. These are fantastic for cooking with and so far, despite being planted in late April, have a huge stack of leaves on them.
I'll let you know how they turn out.
.Piglet wrote:Shallot man,
Of my banana shallots that I bought from France last year, about 60% are running to seed but that isnt a problem as I will have loads of seed for next year rather than paying £5 for 20 odd seeds. The ones that havent run to seed will be replanted next year in a separate bed to the ones grown from this years seed. The main thing is that they all look healthy, I cant wait to harvest the little grains of Black Gold
im pleased to read that
i thought it was something id done when planting out.out of 6 sets 4 have run to seed and im not to sure about the remaining 2,could it be in the genes 
i wouldnt like to say.but anyway the tops are reall tasty if you just cut them like chives and mix with a bit egg mayo 
Hi Piglet,
Well thanks for advising me that they split into divisions so will grow as a normal Shallot.
So my thinking was wrong on that point.
I can't somehow help thinking that there is something that we are missing and it is peturbing me. Going to seed is generally a sign of stress and at present I am having difficulty trying to get some Griselle Shallots to go to seed. I allowed them to grow by putting their bases in water until the sprouted well and then I split them into individual plants and am gowing them in litre pots and abusing them more than a bit and the buggers are thriving.
What I was hoping to do was to get some to produce some seed but I don't think that it is going to happen.
With the Banana Shallots you must collect the seed and grow them on next year to to see what happens.
This just maybe what the French producers do and without information from you I do not think we are likely to gather any further information.
I would take the seed and dispose of the Shallot although it may have some culinary use left in it this is a suck it and see exercise.
You have a PM from me you have not read!!
Well thanks for advising me that they split into divisions so will grow as a normal Shallot.
So my thinking was wrong on that point.
I can't somehow help thinking that there is something that we are missing and it is peturbing me. Going to seed is generally a sign of stress and at present I am having difficulty trying to get some Griselle Shallots to go to seed. I allowed them to grow by putting their bases in water until the sprouted well and then I split them into individual plants and am gowing them in litre pots and abusing them more than a bit and the buggers are thriving.
What I was hoping to do was to get some to produce some seed but I don't think that it is going to happen.
With the Banana Shallots you must collect the seed and grow them on next year to to see what happens.
This just maybe what the French producers do and without information from you I do not think we are likely to gather any further information.
I would take the seed and dispose of the Shallot although it may have some culinary use left in it this is a suck it and see exercise.
You have a PM from me you have not read!!
Hi Johnboy,
I was thinking that they were going to seed too early and if used then those plants would be doing the same. You could end up with a crop of plants going to seed all the time and none any use for the table.
Pete
I was thinking that they were going to seed too early and if used then those plants would be doing the same. You could end up with a crop of plants going to seed all the time and none any use for the table.
Pete
skype me on pmrout
"To be a successful farmer, one must first know the NATURE of the SOIL" Xenophon , Oeconomicus 400 B.C.
"To be a successful farmer, one must first know the NATURE of the SOIL" Xenophon , Oeconomicus 400 B.C.
Hi Peat,
Oh how I agree with you. I think that we are 'betwixt the devil and the blue sea' and the trouble is that it is really going to take some time to sort it out as, without imput from elsewhere, I would imagine it is going to be a trial and error job. Very interesting but also very annoying!
Having nothing I will have to start from scratch next year and I am sure we should be able to sort something out from another scource in that time.
I have just reread Piglets letter and it is only some of a clump that have gone to seed. The trouble is that this year have been very cold so far and this could put them under threat along with so many other things. At present we are left with a huge question mark!
Oh how I agree with you. I think that we are 'betwixt the devil and the blue sea' and the trouble is that it is really going to take some time to sort it out as, without imput from elsewhere, I would imagine it is going to be a trial and error job. Very interesting but also very annoying!
Having nothing I will have to start from scratch next year and I am sure we should be able to sort something out from another scource in that time.
I have just reread Piglets letter and it is only some of a clump that have gone to seed. The trouble is that this year have been very cold so far and this could put them under threat along with so many other things. At present we are left with a huge question mark!
JB.
I have just realised that if you have sent pm's to "pigletwillie" I can no longer access them as my screen name has changed to "piglet"