I haven't grown shallots for a few years, so am looking forward to the results.
I'm gradually filling up the beds on the allotment. Last week I planted main crop potatoes – a variety called Picasso, which doesn't seem too prone to slugs, and one called Cara, which is cited in catalogues as 'the allotment favourite'. I've not grown it before.
The onions also went in, but not where I'd planned. The bed I planned to plant them in had been freshly weeded and forked over, but onions need a really firm bed. Last autumn I cleared, weeded and forked another bed, which was crying out for onions to be planted in it this spring. So that's where they are.
In this lovely firm bed that was originally intended for beans, I've planted 50 odd sets of an F1 onion variety called Hercules. It's supposed to store well, which is just what I need after my disastrous attempts to store last year's sodden specimens.
I've also planted 25 shallots – a classic French banana type called Longor. I haven't grown shallots for a few years, so I'm looking forward to the results. Last time we grew them we had far too many, so I've been careful to plant fewer bulbs this time.
I'll also pickle a fair few. Paul and I love eating pickled onions so this will be a special treat.
Of course, this late decision to rearrange what's growing in each bed has thrown my crop rotation plan completely out of the window.
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