I harvested my Grey Griselle French Shallots today.

I pulled 67 bunches of these shallots today. Some of them had as many as 20 shallots per bunch. So I guess I have hundreds and hundreds of theses bulbs.  I am going to try to braid them like garlic and then hang them up to dry. This is my second season growing them. I bought about 20 bulbs a few years ago and now i have all of these. I planted them last fall and they were falling down and cooking in the upper 80 degree temps we've been having. It might rain tonight and it seemed like a step backwards for them to get wet and soggy.

Garlic and French GreyShallots

The garlic and shallots were planted late last October. Really they are very easy to grow. Basically you just have to keep them weeded. I am growing Red Janice garlic, French Grey Griselle Shallots (Allium Oschanini). I was gone at harvesting time last year and my son in law didn't know what the shallots were. I couldn't find them any where, and finally discovered that he had thrown them in a composter, where they cooked in the sun all summer long. But they survived the experience and this is my second year of my own line of shallots. I tell this story to point out that they aren't hard to grow and can take some abuse.

Planting Grey Griselle French Shallots-Allium Oschanini- Red Janice Garlic

I planted my Garlic and Shallots on Saturday the 22nd of October. You can see in the pictures I lay them out about six inches apart, and then I push them about an inch into the soil.I think I planted about ten bulbs last year and increased them to 50 this year. The soil is rich with organic material and I double dug it and fluffed it up. It is setting on top of about ten inches of horse manure. I am growing a variety of garlic called Red Janice, which I believe is a soft neck. I live in zone 5 and didnt lose any of the shallots in the winter last year, and I think we hit minus 20F . I see a lot of interest on my website with the shallots and garlic, and wish to say that they appear quite foolproof. The shallots sprouted last fall in November, and all the plants were growing and sprouting in February as soon as the snow melted. Last year I didn't mulch them, but this year I put about 8 inches of Oak leaves on top for a mulch, just in case it would get real cold without a snow cover. I planted about 50 Shallot bulbs, and 70 of the garlic. If anyone has questions please leave me a comment.

Allium Oschanini Griselle Grey French Shallots, and Red Janice Garlic

The Shallots and Garlic were planted in October as bulbs. All of this growth has come this spring already.