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Autumn planting garlic, onion & shallot collection

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Bring exceptional flavour to your kitchen with this carefully curated collection of autumn-planted garlic, shallots and onions. Selected for their reliability, productivity and excellent culinary qualities, they'll establish through the colder months before producing an abundant harvest of aromatic bulbs for roasting, caramelising, pickling and everyday cooking.

How to care for Autumn planting garlic, onion & shallot collection:

Plant onion sets so that the tips are just showing and firm the soil around them from mid-March to mid-April, 15cm (6in) apart in rows 30cm (12in) apart. Lift the onions when they are mature (normally in August) and allow them to dry before using. Store the fully ripened, sound bulbs in nets or trays and you can use them throughout the autumn and winter.

Plant shallot sets in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil from September to February, spacing them 15cm (6in) apart in rows 30cm (12in) apart, with just tip of each set showing above the soil surface.

Avoid freshly manured ground, and for the healthiest crop, plant in a different area of the garden each year, avoiding sites where onions, garlic, leeks or other alliums have grown within the last 3-4 years.

Keep the area free of weeds and water during dry spells while the plants are actively growing, reducing watering as the bulbs begin to mature. Lift the shallots once the foliage turns yellow and starts to die back, then leave the bulbs to dry thoroughly in a warm, airy place before storing them in a cool, dry, frost-free location.

Softneck garlic is typically easier to grow in milder areas and stores much longer than hardneck types, often well into the following spring or longer dried and stored properly.

Plant individual cloves in autumn or early spring, spacing them 15-20cm (6-8in) apart in rows around 30cm (12in) apart, in a sunny spot with free-draining soil. Avoid heavy or waterlogged ground and don’t plant into freshly manured beds. Set cloves just below the surface, with the tip just visible or 2.5cm (1in) deep.

Water during prolonged dry spells, especially from late spring when bulbs are swelling, and keep the area weed-free. Unlike hardnecks, softnecks don’t produce scapes, and typically form more cloves per bulb.

Harvest from mid-June to July once the foliage begins to yellow and flop, lifting gently and allowing bulbs to dry thoroughly in a well-ventilated, shaded area. Lay the bulbs (with stems and roots still attached) somewhere dry, airy, and out of direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks. A shed, greenhouse with the vents open, or a covered porch all work well. Once 'cured', they can be plaited or stored in mesh bags in a cool, dry place.

What's included:

This autumn garlic, onion & shallot collection contains the following onion and shallot sets, and heads of garlic:

  • 1 × garlic 'Thermidrôme': Beautiful pinky mauve tinted white bulbs, with pure white casings and plump cloves, French soft neck garlic 'Thermidrôme' has a delicate flavour and high yields early in the season. A rewarding crop to grow, garlic can be squeezed into most gardens - and could even be grown in a windowbox or balcony! Grows to 40cm.

  • 1 × garlic 'Topadrôme': A soft neck garlic with white skin and cream coloured cloves. Garlic is very rewarding to grow, it doesn't take up too much space in your veg plot or allotment and it's well suited to smaller spaces too. Perfect for early harvesting, this fabulous cultivated variety stores well. Grows to 30cm.

  • 50 × onion 'Senshyu Semi-globe Yellow': An improved Japanese cultivated variety that is ideal for planting early, and can provide a crop ready to harvest in May to June. The onions are a nice globe shape and have a mild flavour. The young ones can also be used as spring onions in salads. Grows to 40cm.

  • 50 × onion 'Electric': A red, overwintering onion that should be planted in autumn and will be ready to harvest in from early summer. Onion 'Electric' produces symmetrical, semi-globe shaped bulbs, that have an excellent flavour. Very tasty in salads. Grows to 40cm.

  • 6 × shallot 'Griselle': This 'grey' shallot is sought after in France, where the rich and relatively sweet flavour (compared to an onion) of its pinkish white flesh, is popular with cooks. Not only does 'Griselle' taste delicious, but it's good for you too - being high in vitamin C, potassium and folic acid. Grows to 40cm.

  • 10 × shallot 'Jermor': A highly-flavoured French ‘longue’ shallot from the Southern Rhone valley. Copper skinned bulbs reveal delicate tones of pinkish-white flesh when sliced. Packed with vitamin C and a healthy dose of A, B and D, ‘Jermor’ boasts a delightfully sweet taste. It's perfect for sauces, dressings and salads, and it stores well. Grows to 30cm.
    • Position:

    Full sun

    Rate of growth:

    Slow growing

    Soil:

    Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil

    Hardiness:

    Fully hardy

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    beetroot 'Boltardy'

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    cabbage 'Red Drumhead'

    cabbage or Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group) 'Red Drumhead'

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    carrot 'Autumn King'

    carrot or Daucus carota 'Autumn King'

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    cauliflower 'Igloo'

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    lettuce (butterhead) 'All Year Round'

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