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Shallot, a vegetable and condiment easy to grow

Shallots can be grown just about anywhere, and their gustative qualities mean they are a highly appreciated condiment and an essential vegetable to be included in a kitchen garden. Choosing the right type of shallot depends on planting time, shelf life and the shape and colour of the bulb. There are two main categories of shallots: grey shallots and pink shallots.

Pink shallots (Jersey type)

Pink shallots are often marketed as ‘traditional shallots’. Easy to store, two types of pink shallots are distinguished:

• long: long slender bulb with a golden copper skin and a coloured flesh, an intense and subtle flavour, and a distinctive fragrance. Early planting: can be planted as early as autumn in certain regions.


• short: the most widely cultivated pink shallot in France. This type of shallot has a slightly round-shaped bulb and thin copper-pink/red skin. It has a mild flavour and a pleasant fragrance. Late planting: plant from January to mid-April. Very high yield potential.


Grey shallot

Mainly grown in the south of France, grey shallots have a long curved bulb, with a tough thick grey skin and a pink purplish flesh. Grey shallots have a very pronounced taste and an average shelf life (6 to 7 months).

Grey shallots have been cross bred with pink shallots to create a variety with a longer shelf life. This type of shallot should be planted in the Spring.

Shallot varieties available to amateur gardeners

Long pink shallot (Jersey type)

ELISOR   Breeder INRA

  • Pink shallot Jersey type
  • OYVD virus-free regenerated variety
  • Copper coloured skin
  • Purplish-white flesh
  • Spring planting
  • Mid-early
  • Very good yield
  • Very good storage qualities

VARIETY PROPAGATED BY : ASCOET PLANTS SARL

JERMOR   Breeder Agri Obtentions SA

  • Pink shallot Jersey type
  • OYVD virus-free regenerated variety
  • Copper coloured skin
  • Pinkish-white flesh
  • Spring planting, but can be planted in the autumn in certain regions
  • Early
  • Good yield
  • Good storage qualities

VARIETY PROPAGATED BY : BASMAISON SA, FLEURON D’ANJOU SCA, GIE UNISEM DROM, ORGANISATION BRETONNE DE SELECTION, ROUGIER NOEL ETS, ASCOET PLANTS SARL

LONGOR   Breeder Agri Obtentions SA

  • Pink shallot Jersey type
  • Obtained by OYDV-free cross-breeding
  • Copper coloured skin
  • Purplish-pink flesh
  • Spring planting, but can be planted in the autumn in certain regions
  • Mid-late
  • Very good yield
  • Good storage qualities

VARIETY PROPAGATED BY : ASCOET PLANTS SARL, FLEURON D’ANJOU SCA, ROUGIER NOEL ETS, ORGANISATION BRETONNE DE SELECTION

PESANDOR   Breeder INRA

  • Pink shallot Jersey type
  • Obtained by OYDV-free cross-breeding
  • Copper-pink coloured skin
  • Purplish flesh
  • Spring planting, but can be planted in the autumn in certain regions
  • Mid-late
  • Good yield
  • Good storage qualities

VARIETY PROPAGATED BY : GIE UNISEM DROM, ORGANISATION BRETONNE DE SELECTION

VIGARMOR   Breeder INRA

  • Pink shallot Jersey type
  • obtained by OYDV-free cross-breeding
  • Copper-pink skin
  • Pinkish flesh
  • Spring planting
  • Mid-late
  • High dry matter content
  • Very good yield
  • Very good storage qualities

VARIETY PROPAGATED BY : ASCOET PLANTS SARL, FLEURON D’ANJOU SCA, ORGANISATION BRETONNE DE SELECTION

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Short pink shallot (Jersey type)

MELKIOR   Breeder INRA

  • Pink shallot Jersey type
  • Variety obtained by OYDV-free cross-breedin
  • Dark copper coloured skin
  • Purplish flesh
  • Spring planting
  • Late
  • Very high dry matter content
  • Good yield
  • Good storage qualities
  • Resistant to botrytis squamosa and Late blight diseases

VARIETY PROPAGATED BY : ASCOET PLANTS SARL, FLEURON D’ANJOU SCA

MIKOR   Breeder Agri Obtentions SA

  • Pink shallot Jersey type
  • OYVD virus-free regenerated variety
  • Pinkish-copper coloured skin
  • Pinkish-white flesh
  • Spring planting
  • Late
  • Very good yield
  • Very good storage qualities

VARIETY PROPAGATED BY : BASMAISON SA, FLEURON D’ANJOU SCA, ORGANISATION BRETONNE DE SELECTION, ROUGIER NOEL ETS, ASCOET PLANTS SARL

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Grey shallot

GRISELLE   Breeder Agri Obtentions SA

  • Origin grey shallot
  • OYDV-free
  • Grey skin
  • Purplish-white flesh
  • Very high dry matter content
  • Can be stored for up to 6/7 months

VARIETY PROPAGATED BY : GIE UNISEM DROM, SEMPLUS SARL

GRISOR   Breeder INRA

  • Origin cross breeding between Griselle and pink shallot
  • OYDV virus-free regenerated plant
  • Copper grey skin
  • Purplish flesh
  • Early
  • Good yield
  • Can be stored up to 7/8 months

VARIETY PROPAGATED BY : GIE UNISEM DROM, ORGANISATION BRETONNE DE SELECTION

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