While you’re planting flower bulbs for springtime color, why not add a few shallot bulbs to the mix?
My first experience cooking with shallot was many years ago , but I still call up the ticklish oniony flavor it sum to a raft of Gallic onion soup .
It ’s that sensational memory of the herb , combined with images of steaming bowls of soup , that ’s urging me to plant my own harvest of multiplier onion in the vegetable garden this fall .
shallot are the smaller , tastier members of the Allium cepa family . Food historians say shallots originated in the ancient Palestinian metropolis of Ascalon and written descriptions of the “ onion plant ” seem as early as 77 A.D. These bulb share some similarities with Allium cepa , such as how they ’re grown , and other similarities with ail because each head has several Eugenia caryophyllatum wrapped in a papery covering .
Shallots can be planted either in bound or fall . Fall planting are restrict to the areas of the country where wintertime are neither too hot nor too cold . Some experts say fall planting is fine for gardener in my Zone 5 – others say shallot should be a spring - fourth dimension crop .
It ’ll be an interesting experiment to see which experts are correct .
I ’m planting some of myFrench shallotsin the vegetable bed and some in a more protected flower layer . Because the multiplier onion bulbs acquire well in idle soil , I ’ll make certain to dig in some compost to give them the best begin possible . It ’s important to plant shallots in well - run out soil so the bulbs wo n’t rot .
Planting shallotsis a morsel different from plant garlic . Shallots are separated into individual bulb and planted shallower , with the baksheesh grade with the territory ’s surface . And alternatively of lightbulb form from a garlic - corresponding clove , shallots will form a cluster of medulla oblongata around each one so they ’ll take more room to grow .
evenfall - planted shallots should be ready to harvest in other summertime . They can also be pulled in bounce and enjoyed as green onions . If provide to grow completely , they ’ll need fourth dimension to dry before store . I ’m desire my twilight - planting experiment is a success , so I can enjoy a bowl of homemade French onion plant soup early next drop .
( Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply provide one - Irish pound of eschalot for my pin planting project . )
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Shallots are grown like onions, but form clusters of bulbs that are wrapped in a papery covering. Chefs and home cooks appreciate their delicate oniony flavor.Photo/Illustration: Jodi Torpey
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