Red shallot Allium 'Red Sun'

Onion sets are immature onions that are harvested at an early growth stage. When replanted in spring, they develop into fully mature onions by the end of the summer. Onion sets can be planted from early spring to late spring, preferably in rows at a distance of 8 cm, with 35-40 cm between each row. Plant the onions just below the surface. If the weather is wet it is best to leave until later. Shallots grow best under complete sunshine.

Shallots are easy-to-grow vegetables. Mix some garden fertilizer into the ground preferably in the winter; about 50 grams per square metre. Sprinkle 40 grams of potassium per square meter. Make sure that after planting you keep the area free from weeds. Provide extra water during dry periods so that the onions develop well. In very wet summers, you can harvest a few weeks earlier. Harvesting shallots Between July and August, the foliage begins to brown. When about half the foliage has turned brown, you can pull all the shallots out of the ground. Hang them in bunches to dry. Shallots can be stored for a long time in a cool and dry area. Red Shallots can generally be harvested about two weeks earlier than Yellow Shallots.

Red Shallot 'Red Sun' is a disease-resistant variety. You can eat both its fresh leaves and the bulb. Shallots have a sharper and sweeter taste than onions. Red Shallots are a bit spicier and more aromatic than Yellow Shallots. You can harvest some in June and mix them into a salad which is why these young shallots are called 'salad onions'. Shallots should have a rotation cycle when planted at home as root crops.