Shallot 'Red'

Red Shallots have a mild, sweet flavour that perfectly complements Asian dishes or they can add gorgeous colour and taste to salads.

The bulbs are a little smaller than the gold shallots and can produce a healthy 6-15 bulbs in a season.

Shallots are easy to grow, simply requiring a well drained soil and a sunny spot. Each bulb can produce a cluster of 6-12 new bulbs in a season. It is a good idea to keep shallots moist during growth, they have a short root system so regular watering is important for good bulb growth. It is also a good idea to fertilise well for best production. Plant the bulbs just under soil level and space around 20cm apart.

You can companion plant your shallots with lettuce, cabbage, beets, carrots, mint, thyme, sage, strawberries and tomatoes. They shouldn’t be teamed with beans or peas.

The old adage is to plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest – though in warmer areas they can be planted and harvested a bit earlier. You should pull/harvest the bulbs before flowering, as the green shoots are beginning to bend and wither. Dry them in a well ventilated area for two to three weeks before separating then storing or feasting.

If you can resist, try and keep a couple of the bigger bulbs back for replanting next season. In ideal conditions, shallot bulbs will store well for up to a year.