Shallots

This week Dirty Nails has been planting shallots. This prolific and reliable member of the onion tribe is traditionally planted on the shortest day of the year and harvested on the longest. Although the crop is not always ripe for lifting on 21 June, Dirty Nails likes to get his shallots in the ground on midwinter’s day. He selects the best of last season’s crop, those that are firm, whole and about an inch (2½ cm) or so across, for planting now. These are descendants of shallots which a friend gave to him some years ago, and this annual Winter Solstice ritual has kept them on the menu ever since.

Shallots are sun-lovers, and this fact is considered when a growing site is chosen. Dirty Nails cleans the plot meticulously prior to planting, and lightly forks over the soil as he does this. A liberal dusting of dry wood ash is applied and raked in. Because shallots prefer to grow in firm ground, he treads it down with small sideways steps all over. The bed is then given one more light raking before receiving the shiny brown bulbs. All loose, flaky outer skin and stalk should be carefully rubbed or cut off before they are planted at 9 inch (23 cm) intervals, in rows a foot (30 cm) apart.

Dirty Nails ties string between two canes to keep his planting lines straight. These are easy to maintain weed-free with a hoe. He makes a little planting nest with his thumb, and presses each set in gently to half its depth. The soil is then firmed back around the set with thumb and first finger, using both hands.

Natural History In The Garden: Foxes

From the silent depths of a long cold night, listen out for the unearthly screaming wails of foxes. This primeval noise is the female (vixen) calling out to potential mates in the vicinity. The mating season occurs from December until February, and during this time the male (dog) foxes travel extensively over large areas of town and country looking for a suitable partner.

Once contact has been established the couple spend many days by each other’s side. The dog will follow the vixen as if in a spell, and may be seen doing so even in broad daylight. After three weeks or so mating takes place many times. The foxes may become so embroiled in their business that they become locked together and oblivious to what is going on around them.

Shallots need to be inspected regularly for a couple of weeks after planting, until their roots have taken anchor. Cats, birds and frost can all lift them out of position, as can the growing roots if merely pushed into the ground and not nestled down securely. During his daily rounds Dirty Nails firms any sets that are showing signs of looseness.

All being well, they should be showing green shoots in a few weeks. Apart from the initial care and attention during rooting, shallots require only to be kept moist and weed-free in order to give a really big return for the space occupied.

Vegetable Snippets: A Brief History Of Shallots

Shallots are part of the onion family, which boasts 450 species worldwide. This veg was a staple foodstuff in ancient Egypt. Shallots were introduced to European palates as eschallots in the twelfth century by returning Crusaders. Their onion-like bounty heralded from the ancient Palestinian (Canaan) city of Ascalon, from where they were believed to have originated.