Shallots Plant is a hybrid bulb plant that was originally developed as a landscape tomato, and because of its hardiness, it’s perfect for the outdoors. It is a vine or bush plant that grows up to four feet tall with colorful flowers that bloom in late spring through early summer. It may be either indoors in a greenhouse or outdoors in gardens, and can tolerate most climates and conditions. Its flowers look like a mixture of pink and red peppers with the petals being blue, long, and narrow. The bulb, which is the actual flower, has a deep green color.
Harvesting and pruning should be done in autumn, or earlier if you’re growing the bulbs indoors. Cut them about one inch lower than the root ball; you can actually leave the bulb on the vine to go through the growing process and then just clip off the top. You can place the shallots in a glass jar with a little water, but don’t let the jars get too wet, as the water will dilute the contents of the jar. The jar should be placed in a sunny window to capture some full sun, or in a shaded area in your yard.
For the first few weeks after planting, keep your Shallots Plant well watered, but only if you see that the soil is dry. If the soil appears to be dry but isn’t, or if you find that the leaves or blossoms are starting to change color, take the plant away from the water source immediately. If you wait for the leaves to grow back and change color, you will probably be surprised to see that they are still quite green and lush even after the last week. In fact, if your Shallots are properly cared for, they should flower all season, with no sign of leafing up until as late as October.
Planting height can vary widely depending on space available, and drainage issues, as shallots generally don’t do well in full sun. Taller bulbs in full sun will also typically flower sooner. Be careful not to plant too close together, though, or the roots might rot or get tangled. Laying the shallots down in rows or areas along a fence will provide more space and drainage, allowing the plant to better spread out and develop a well-balanced growth habit.
When planting, carefully dig about three times as much as you think the root system will require. This will allow room for expanding the roots as the plant grows, and also for the expanding of the bulb, making it easier to harvest. Be sure to remove the seeds from the bulbs before sowing, or the crop will not be healthy. After sowing, pull the plants gently back into their bedding. Harvest when the center of the stalk turns yellow and starts to turn gray.
Harvesting is usually very easy, after the plant has finished blooming. Simply open the container of soil where the plant was in, making sure to remove any weeds that may have come up during the process, and put the seed in. Water the bulb just enough to keep it moist, but not wet. Then just cover the seed with some mulch and enjoy! It is best to transplant these bulbs after the first bloom to make sure the soil has plenty of air circulation and the bulb gets plenty of sunshine.