shallot 'Menhir'
banana shallot
- 10 × sets
- £4.99
- available to order from winter
- 30 × sets
- £12.50 £14.97
- available to order from winter
Delivery options
- Bulbs (only) £4.95
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Hardiness: fully hardy
- Set size: 15/35
The relatively mild and sweet flavour of these 'longue' shallots make them perfect for adding a bit of oomph to the salad, but they are also wonderful in soups and stews. Typically ready to harvest in August, they store well, so can be used well into autumn.
Sets are the easiest way to grow shallots in the garden, and they will mature faster than those grown from seed. Plant very early in the season, in mid-February if possible, in a sunny position, and allow room for the shallots to splay out and produce clusters of bulbs.
Garden care: Unpack bulbs as soon as they arrive, and if it's too early to plant (from from January to April) store them where they can be kept cool and dry. When the time comes, plant them 3cm deep and 12cm apart in a well-prepared bed and keep them well watered. They will usually ready to start lifting from July to September.