Shallot is such a versatile vegetable that it can be grown in any climate. Whether you have a large vegetable garden, a small patio or just a sunny window, you can grow scallions and enjoy the fresh, pungent flavor in salads, soups and stews. Read this article to learn about different ways to grow it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Grow Shallot from Seed or Seedling
Step 1. Choose the variety you want to grow
Shallot, also called spring onion, is a sprout that begins to sprout before a bulb forms. Basically it looks like an unripened onion. Look for the seeds of a rich and substantial shallot, such as the common, Jersey, Romagna, red, yellow or whatever you prefer to grow.
If you don't want to grow it from seed, choose red or white shallot seedlings to plant directly. These resemble small bulbs with a bare root and are tied with string or a rubber band. You can harvest some to grow as scallions and let others ripen into onions
Step 2. Prepare the place where you want the seedlings to grow
Choose a location in the vegetable garden or garden that is in full sun and with well-draining soil. Loosen the soil to a depth of 30 cm and mix it with compost, blood meal or other organic material to enrich it with nutrients. This way the shallot grows strong, lush and will continue to produce sprouts throughout the growing season.
- Make sure you get rid of stones, woods and weeds before working the land and planting the vegetable.
- You can use a garden rake if the space you have available is a small plot. If, on the other hand, the surface is greater, it is better to buy or rent a subsoiler to make the job easier.
- If you only want to grow a couple of seedlings, you can prepare a pot with compost-rich potting soil instead of planting them in the ground.
Step 3. Plant the seeds or seedlings
Once the soil has been prepared, about 4 weeks before the last frost, it is time to plant the seeds or seedlings you have prepared. If you have decided to start the cultivation from seeds, distribute them thickly in the soil at about 1.3 cm deep in rows 30 cm apart. If, on the other hand, you have seedlings, plant them with the roots facing downwards 5 cm apart, 2.5 cm deep and in rows 30 cm apart. Water the soil abundantly.
- The seeds begin to germinate when the soil reaches a temperature of 18-30 ° C. It may take up to a month for germination to begin.
- If you live in a cold climate where spring is late in coming, you can start growing by planting the seeds indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost. Place them in a sowing soil with peat and keep them well watered. Leave them in a warm, sunny room during the germination period. When the external soil is warm enough and it is possible to work it, you can transfer the seedlings to the vegetable garden or to a larger pot.
Step 4. Thin out the seedlings if necessary
When the first green shoots begin to appear, consider whether it is appropriate to thin them out a little so that each plant has a little more space. Shallots grow well in bunches, but if you want the best results, mature plants need to be spaced at least 5-7.5cm apart. Check your garden and remove weaker seedlings, if applicable.
Step 5. Add mulch between the seedlings
Cover the surrounding soil with grass clippings, pine straw, or thin pieces of bark. This prevents weeds from growing while keeping the soil evenly moist.
If you are growing the vegetable in a pot, you can skip this step, because weeds are not a problem and you can still easily control the humidity level
Step 6. Keep your vegetables well watered
Shallots need constant humidity throughout the growing season. Make sure he always has about 2.5cm of water every week. For optimal development, the soil should not be soaked, but always moist. Water the soil every 2 to 3 days or when it starts to look dry and dusty.
Another way to determine if the vegetable needs water is to check the condition of the soil. Insert up to the second phalanx a finger in the soil near the seedling. If the soil feels dry, water it. If, on the other hand, you think the soil is quite wet, do not add water and repeat the test again a few days later. If it has rained recently in your area, you may not need to irrigate further
Step 7. Collect the shallots when ripe
After 3-4 weeks, the green shoots grow to 15-20 cm and are ready to eat. To collect them, extract the entire plant by pulling it from the ground. It probably hasn't formed the bulb yet. Both parts of the shallot, both the white and the green, are fragrant.
- If you want some seedlings to ripen to become onions for storage, simply leave them in the ground. The final part of the vegetable begins to form a bulb, which will be ready for harvest in the fall.
- If you want to use only the green part of the shallot and don't want the white part near the roots, you can take a pair of scissors and cut off the green tips. Leave 5 to 10 cm of the plant so it can grow further, so you can harvest the green area again when it has reached 15-20 cm in length. Keep in mind that as the plant matures it takes on a stronger flavor.
Method 2 of 3: Growing Shallots in a Closed Pot
Step 1. Choose the shallot seedlings to grow
Choose the red, white variety or seedlings ready to be planted. These are available in all nurseries and look like mini bare root bulbs that are tied with string or rubber bands. Any type of bulb will produce great scallions, and they all grow well in indoor pots.
Step 2. Prepare a pot of rich soil
Shallots thrive in nutrient-rich soil, so choose one mixed with compost or make your own. Fill the pot with soil up to a few inches from the top edge. Wet well to prepare the soil for planting. Make sure the container you are using has drainage holes so the soil doesn't get too wet.
Step 3. Plant the bulbs
Plant each seedling 2.5cm deep, keeping the roots pointing downwards. Gently dab the soil onto the surface. Space the seedlings 3.5-5cm apart so that they have enough space to form roots without them being too crowded together. Water them and keep them near a sunny window.
- You can grow shallots indoors at any time of the year as long as you maintain proper conditions. This vegetable prefers full sun, so you should place the pot in front of a window that gets light most of the day. Make sure the temperature never drops below freezing.
- Keep the soil regularly moist. Water every 2 to 3 days or when the soil feels dry. Do not soak it too much, however, it must be damp but never soggy.
Step 4. Harvest the shallot when it reaches 15-20 cm in height
After a couple of weeks, the green tips are born and begin to grow. Now you can remove the seedling from the pot by pulling it to consume the white and green part or with a pair of scissors cut the green tops and let the seedling continue to grow. If you keep it in the pot, you can probably get at least one more crop before the growing season ends.
Method 3 of 3: Grow the Shallot in a Glass Jar
Step 1. Store the shallot bulbs
The next time you buy this vegetable for use in a recipe, keep the white part with the roots and eat only the green part. You will be able to grow more shallots starting from the roots alone; when you want to add flavor to a dish, you'll have your home grown spring onions close at hand.
Any shallot bulbs are fine, but you will get better results if you take vegetables that have been grown in your area. This way you can be sure that they grow well in your climate. Try to start growing by purchasing shallots at the farmer's market, as they most likely originate in your region
Step 2. Put the root system facing down in a glass jar
Any clean glass jar is fine for this type of cultivation. The important thing is that it is made of transparent and uncolored glass, so that the vegetable inside is reached by the sun's rays. You can put as many roots in the jar as you like, just make sure they are facing down and the green part grows out of the pot.
Step 3. Provide adequate water and sunlight
Add enough water to completely cover the bulbs. Place the pot in front of a sunny window and wait for the magic to happen. Within a few days, you should see the roots starting to stretch. The small green shoots will sprout from the bulbs and start growing upwards. Make sure there is always enough water to cover the white part of the shallot.
Step 4. Collect the green part of the vegetable
When the shallot reaches 10-15 cm in length it is ready for harvest. Remove it and cut the part of the vegetable you want or use it all. If you only need a handful of chopped shallots, you can put the bulb and roots back into the pot to allow it to continue growing. You should be able to harvest the same spring onions 2-3 times before they stop growing.
If you decide to continue growing shallots, change the water every week or so to keep it fresh
Advice
- You can start growing the seeds indoors about 6 - 8 weeks before the growing season begins and then transplant them into the soil outside. If starting cultivation from seed is not your first passion, you can buy the seedlings already formed at a nursery.
- Water more often if you grow shallots in containers, as the soil tends to dry out faster in this case.
- When you harvest the shallot, leave about 2.5 cm above the root for you to plant again. This way you guarantee a constant supply of spring onions throughout the season.
- The shallot should be planted in a completely sunny area. If possible, keep the soil pH consistently at 6.0-7.5. This will provide optimal conditions for this vegetable to grow.
- Watch out for root rot! This occurs if the plant remains immersed in stagnant water for too long. If you grow it in a pot, change the water often, at least every week or even more frequently.
