The Garden Community for Garden Lovers
 

United Kingdom Gb

Every year my shallots end up going mouldy and are unusable even after being fully dried off in the sun after lifting and being hung up in an open garage in the autumn. Why is this?




Answers

 

Hi Martin and welcome to GoY are you drying your shallots of on a wire frame before putting into a net to hang and store. They really do have to be well dried off first. Also how good is the air circulation in your 'open garage'?

13 Dec, 2011

 

My Grampy use to have a baton on a south facing wall with cup hooks screwed in. He tied all his onions and hung them from it for a few days. Never seen anyone else do this.

13 Dec, 2011

 

The key is properly drying off and making sure the neck is folded over...

13 Dec, 2011

 

Martin MG Knows her onions.. Follow her advice

13 Dec, 2011

 

Well, thanks for that. I thought I'd got them really dry this summer, leaving them baking on a slatted bench in the sun. Why is folding the neck over crucial? Maybe the air doesn't circulate well enough in the open-front garage. It's a real shame to see my wife discard 85% of the crop after putting in all that effort!

13 Dec, 2011

 

Folding over the neck a week or more prior to harvesting helps to stop mould spores from getting into the onion or shallot. We dry on racks for anything up to a week, putting under the car port or covering if the weather turns wet.

You do need a good air circulation where you store them, our potting shed is huge and has a chicken mess screen door which is all that is shut unless the weather is very bad.

Have you considered mincing your shallots and storing in oil in the freezer? The oil will stay soft enough for you to just scoop out the amount of shallots you need.

14 Dec, 2011

 

May I ask what the mould looks like. We can no longer grow onions as we have got White mould in the soil and that basically is untreatable. The base of the Shallot would grow a white fungus all over it.
Mould on improperly dried Shallots is more often than not, green.

14 Dec, 2011

 

Good point Owdb. and one I hadn't thought of as isn't a problem for us.

14 Dec, 2011

 

It's not mould, as such, but the bulbs just go soft and rot on the inside despite looking healthy enough on the outside. I like the mincing/freezing suggestion as it seems the only sure way to beat the problem; otherwise, I'll just grow something else instead which works 100% - parsnips!

14 Dec, 2011

 

Can't beat a good parsnip!

14 Dec, 2011

 

Basal rot and neck rot are common to all onions/shallots - not much to be done except ensure good crop rotation, leaving at least three years before planting in same spot. Also, too much nitrogen based feeding can bring on the same rot. Onions etc generally do not require any nitrogen based feeds. Before harvesting, as MG says, bend their necks when their foliage starts to yellow off, and leave a few days before pulling up.

17 Dec, 2011

 

Good that you have so much 'book' knowledge Avkq!

17 Dec, 2011

 

Actually, I have been growing onions and shallots in my garden for many years - successfully too, after initial problems, which I took the time to research and ask about. Is there a problem with this? I also grow lots of other veggies and fruits.

18 Dec, 2011

 

None at all Avkq

18 Dec, 2011

 

So why your gibe about "good that I have so much 'book' knowledge" ... come on, out with it. It was an unnecessary and hurtful comment from someone I took to be a professional. If you have a personal issue with me, then please leave your comments for private messages, and not within gardening questions.

18 Dec, 2011

 

Avkq it was not a gibe at you... I am impressed with anyone who has 'book knowledge' whether gained from a book or experience. If I am a little 'sour' these days it is due to an accident which has damaged my back leaving me in a lot of pain. MG

18 Dec, 2011

 

Book knowledge is not experience, as you seem to suggest, or the same as the love of gardening that I do and have. We all have to occasionally resort to the written word, as I have done openly on this site. Your original comment came out of the blue, with nothing to substantiate it. Continue this conversation in private, or apologise and drop it.

18 Dec, 2011

 

Avkq it is you who are creating this conversation not me... I have no desire to continue it in any way shape or form!

18 Dec, 2011

 

That's okay, MG, I accept your apology for the misplaced comment. Life is too short, and the truth will always 'out' in the end. Take care, and best wishes for a good Christmas ... sincerely.

19 Dec, 2011

 

And you have a good Christmas too Avkq

19 Dec, 2011

How do I say thanks?

Answer question

 


Not found an answer?