I’m interested in the French shallots. Grow exotic garlic every year A source is in the great state of Maine. It must be hardy for me here. It’s the Maine potato lady. Arnold Sent from AOL Mobile Mail Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com On Saturday, July 4, 2020, Mike Rummerfield via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: Re: French Grey Shallots Jane, I grow these about 100 miles north of you. They require very similar conditions to those required by garlic. I've not been happy with the results with leaving them in the ground to reprout in the Fall (resulting in numerous small bulbs). When you replant them, divide and replant as individual cloves (they will self divide into more, just as garlic does). The key to growing them to usable size is high fertility. Fertilizing them (I use only organic) while growing in quality loam will provide optimal size, although they never will be as large as some of the other shallot varieties -- genetics. They make up for that by being more prolific in the number of new bulbs they produce. I mix in fertilizer once in the Fall when I plant them, and side dress them with same before adding compost mulch in very early Spring. And, yes, applying the high quality organic mulch, as you mentioned, would be advantageous; they are shallow rooted. I share your discouragement in small bulbs. If they're too small, I just don't use them - too much trouble. Grey shallots also hold up very well in very long storage, some years still usable after two full seasons in storage. Not sure about their hardiness in colder climates. Maybe that would require very early Spring planting? This season's grey shallots are harvestable for me now. I just need to get out there, dodge the raindrops, and do it. Good luck, Mike zn. 7, cool mediterranean > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…