"Tim W" wrote in message
...
Previously I have planted onion sets. The sets are tiny, maybe 1/2" across
and grow to big 3 - 4" dia onions. Excellent. This year my wife suggested
growing shallots as being more diffiult to find and expensive to buy so I
ordered up shallot sets and they have arrived on the mat.

Now I thought a mature shallot was a little pink onion about an inch in
dia so I am puzzled to see that my sets are well, little pink onions about
an inch in dia. Since they look like what I expected to get at the end of
the season I am not sure what the purpose of planting them is. Am I meant
to separate them like a garlic bulb? They don't obviously come apart like
that. Have I misunderstood what a shallot actually is?

Tim W
Most shallots aren't pink, nevertheless they all start about the size of
what you described and develop into 6 or more of roughly the same size or
bigger, from that one set. They prefer a spell in cool weather so I should
plant them asap