Shallots

Allium cepa (Aggregatum Group)

Last revised February 15, 2010

VARIETIES AND PLANTING STOCK

Shallots are normally propagated from bulb divisions. In addition, true seed of shallots is now available in both red and yellow types.

Shallots propagated from bulb divisions:

French Red Shallot - red type is the most common dry shallot grown. Other yellow or white varieties include Griselle, Chicken Leg Shallot, and Dutch Yellow, but only the red shallot is important in the market.

Shallots may be grown as an overwinter or spring-planted crop in the Willamette Valley. Major cultural problems in this crop include weed and disease control, effect of planting dates on yield, maturity, and degree of bolting, and the effects of size of, planting stock and planting density on yield and bulb size at harvest. This study was designed to investigate the effects of three planting densities and two bulb sizes on the total yield and mean bulb weight at harvest and on the number of bulbs produced per bulb planted.

Methods

Overwintered vegetable crops, planted in July through October and harvested the following spring, offer several advantages to both fresh market and traditional row crop growers.

Shallots may be grown as an overwinter or spring-planted crop in the Willamette Valley. Major cultural problems in this crop include weed and disease control, effect of planting dates on yield, maturity, and degree of bolting, and the effects of size of, planting stock and planting density on yield and bulb size at harvest. This study was designed to investigate the effects of three planting densities and two bulb sizes on the total yield and mean bulb weight at harvest and on the number of bulbs produced per bulb planted.

Methods

Research report from OSU's North Willamette Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Delbert Hemphill
OSU Dept of Horticulture, NWREC

Shallots can be planted in October for harvest the following summer. A major problem in overwinter shallot culture is weed control. Winter rains make tractor cultivation or hand-hoeing nearly impossible and effective herbicides have not been available. These trials were designed to test the weed control effectiveness of four herbicides applied immediately after planting and their effect on crop fields.

Methods