I planted shallots (passalong from my great uncle's garden) a year and a half ago, and since no one I asked seemed to know much about them, I never really got around to harvesting them...till today. The greens (about a foot and a half tall) were starting to die back, and I figured it was time. Well, they're like an enormous green onion, no bulb. I put them in a shady/airy place to cure, but maybe I should just chop one up and throw it into a stir fry. Hmm.
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6 comments:
Hmmm is right! I would have not have known that they'd live in the ground for that long. I bet they're still tasty, though. :)
Yeah, they might just be on the non-mild side of things. Live and learn.
I think they might be biennials, like carrots and onions, and take 2 growing seasons to complete a life cycle. Just a thought, would need to do a bit of research to figure it out, though.
I think you're right about the biennial thing. I vaguely remember reading something about the first year being when you harvest, and the second is when they flower. I'll try treating them like onions next planting season.
Everyone grows them here (in Australia)! They are really tough and if you buy a bunch at the market, you can cut off the root ends and just replant them (even if they have been in the fridge for a week, they will sprout again). Most people pull the whole plant out to use, but we leave them in and just take a 'leaf' or two for flavour. They always go to seed eventually though.
Gay, that is good to know! Summer heat & humidity is setting in here now, and I don't think I can replant until fall. But I like the idea of using the leaves as needed.
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