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Post by kyredneck on Dec 1, 2014 8:17:42 GMT -5
philagardener: "...I believe that technically potato onions are considered a subset of shallots...." Most everything I've read simply states that shallots, multipliers, and potato onions are all 'allium cepa var. aggregatum', like cabbage, kale, collards, cauliflower, broccoli, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, etc., are all 'brassica oleracea'. Check out this site - heirloomonions.com/?page_id=784 "The first thing to remember is the fact that all cultivated Shallots, Onions, and Leeks are hybrids–some natural, some not, but all of obscure parentage. There is no wild native shallot/multiplying onion that can be shot with a tranquilizer dart and brought back to the lab for observation and study. The wild relatives/ancestors of the common onion are fairly well known, however, and we are in fact in the process of introducing a few of these into cultivation...." |
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Dec 1, 2014 9:20:08 GMT -5
Drives me absolutely nuts at the farmer's market... Shallot this and shallot that. And I'm like: "It's just an onion", and as far as I can tell there ain't much difference between onions, other than superficial things like shape, size, and color.
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Post by kyredneck on Dec 1, 2014 9:22:03 GMT -5
If you would like to try some of that seed, drop me a PM with your address.
Thank you very much, I may take you up on that. 
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Post by philagardener on Dec 1, 2014 20:46:39 GMT -5
Drives me absolutely nuts at the farmer's market... Shallot this and shallot that. And I'm like: "It's just an onion", and as far as I can tell there ain't much difference between onions, other than superficial things like shape, size, and color. Maybe the real difference is just the price  |
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Post by steev on Dec 1, 2014 21:05:38 GMT -5
That's not the real difference, just the important difference.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Dec 1, 2014 21:40:22 GMT -5
So what? I should stop selling onions and only sell shallots?
Sales sure shot up when I stopped selling green onions and started selling "scallions".
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Post by steev on Dec 1, 2014 23:18:19 GMT -5
All too often, people want the sizzle more than the steak.
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Post by kyredneck on Dec 2, 2014 8:58:13 GMT -5
Concerning 'multipliers' only: weight-wise, which gives more in return, shallots or onions? From my experience it has unquestionably been onions, but maybe I'm missing something.
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Post by kyredneck on Dec 2, 2014 10:14:03 GMT -5
True or false?:
"..... Botanically speaking, shallots don't exist; they are a form of bulbing multiplying onion, differentiated by their smaller size. Originally, they were named for a plant found by the Crusaders, but they bear no botanical relationship to that plant. Most shallots on the market today are not even the same shallot so beloved by the French. Instead, they are varieties developed by crossing common onions with Welsh onions or other multipliers — a primary aim of the plant breeders was to create varieties that could be reliably reproduced...."
Planting Fall Perennial Onions and Shallots
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Post by bunkie on Dec 4, 2014 11:55:46 GMT -5
I was curious if anyone notices a difference in size between growing shallots from bulb or seed? At our farmers market last month, I saw the largest shallots (huge) I've ever seen. I bought a couple and still have them to take a pics of if needed. The farmer said he found that growing them from seed made bigger (huge) produce!
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Post by ilex on Dec 5, 2014 3:54:36 GMT -5
There are hybrids between regular onions and shallots. Very big, small flavour.
On the first year, they make fewer bigger bulbs.
No or few virus from seed.
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Post by kyredneck on Mar 25, 2015 7:18:36 GMT -5
.......If you would like to try some of that seed, drop me a PM with your address. Hey Karl, I sowed them (about sixty seed) Mar 15th and have about 50% germination so far.
I guess I'm doing this right; anyone have any criticisms/suggestions please speak up.
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Post by ferdzy on Mar 25, 2015 7:53:07 GMT -5
True or false?:
"..... Botanically speaking, shallots don't exist; they are a form of bulbing multiplying onion, differentiated by their smaller size. Originally, they were named for a plant found by the Crusaders, but they bear no botanical relationship to that plant. Most shallots on the market today are not even the same shallot so beloved by the French. Instead, they are varieties developed by crossing common onions with Welsh onions or other multipliers — a primary aim of the plant breeders was to create varieties that could be reliably reproduced...."
Planting Fall Perennial Onions and Shallots
My impression is, it's mostly oversimplified, rather than true or false. I would say that true shallots do exist - what I consider "true" shallots are allium oschaninii, which as far as I know just don't produce seed. They are generally known as the French gray shallot. You will hardly ever find them available now and when you do they will be more expensive than ever - and they were never cheap. As I understand it, back in the 1990's Dutch breeders were able to induce some shallot-like potato onions to flower, crossed them with onions, and produced a number of varieties of seed grown hybrid "shallots". They have completely taken over the market, being much faster and more reliable to grow, but their shallotness is pretty hit or miss, in my opinion. Many of them are also going to be male-sterile. Banana shallots seem to be one of the few older, OP varieties of "shallot". I would say that all shallots are potato onions, but not all potato onions are shallots, so the reverse of what Philagardener said. They do all split and form "nests" of onions if left long enough. True shallots, and occasionally a few of the hybrids, have a flavour that is distinct from most onions. It's often described as more garlic-like, but that doesn't seem quite right to me. I've found it in a few onions, in particular Amish Bottle and Rose de Roscoff, although they don't taste exactly like shallots either. But it's a flavour simultaneously milder and more penetrating than that of most regular onions. |
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Post by paquebot on Mar 27, 2015 1:27:04 GMT -5
I've often said that a shallot is just an onion with a different attitude. I've grown just about every kind available and still have a few Golden that wintered over and some bulbs of same to plant this spring. I've grown the Banana and didn't see that much difference than a torpedo onion. Grew a few Zebrune last year and liked it enough to have maybe 50 seedlings right now. Tried a hybrid mix several years ago and liked them but had more of an onion taste than true shallot. Those are the ones that are being sold in stores at high prices. Not worth the extra cost in my opinion.
Martin
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Mar 27, 2015 11:05:47 GMT -5
I've often said that a shallot is just an onion with a different attitude. Reminds me of the time at the farmer's market when a lady asked me for scallions. I told her that I didn't have any scallions, only green onions... |
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