French Gray Shallot
French Gray Shallot is a heirloom allium. Germination takes N/A - grown from bulb sets days and fruit ripens from about day 90-120. Skin runs to gray-brown papery skin with rose-purple flesh. Water need is 1 inch per week during growth, reduce watering as bulbs mature. Suits zones 5-10. It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Plant bulb sets in early spring 2-4 weeks before last frost, or fall in mild climates. Plant with tip just below soil surface.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- 1 inch per week during growth, reduce watering as bulbs mature
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile soil with good organic matter, avoid heavy clay
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 4-6 inches
- Height
- 12-18 inches
- Season
- Cool season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Gray-brown papery skin with rose-purple flesh
- Size
- 1-2 inches diameter, 6-12 bulbs per cluster
- Shape
- Elongated teardrop bulbs clustered together
- Flavour
- Complex, mild, sweet with subtle wine-like notes, less sharp than onions
In the kitchen
Fine dining, French cuisine, sauces, vinaigrettes, roasting, caramelizing. Stores 6-10 months in proper conditions.
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Onion thrips, bulb mites, onion maggot
- Diseases
- Neck rot, downy mildew, purple blotch
- Resistance
- Good storage qualities, moderate disease resistance
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | June – July | September |
| 2 | — | — | May – July | September |
| 3 | — | — | May – June | August – October |
| 4 | — | — | April – June | August – October |
| 5 | — | — | April – May | July – November |
| 6 | — | — | April – May | July – November |
| 7 | — | — | March – May | July – November |
| 8 | — | — | March – April | June – December |
| 9 | — | — | February – March | May – December |
| 10 | — | — | January – March | May – December |
| 11 | — | — | January – February | April – December |
| 12 | — | — | January – February | April – December |
| 13 | — | — | January – February | April – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 72
- Protein (g)
- 2.5
- Fat (g)
- 0.1
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 16.8
- Fibre (g)
- 3.2
- Sugars (g)
- 7.87
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 0
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 8
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.04
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 0.8
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.345
- Folate (µg)
- 34
- Calcium (mg)
- 37
- Iron (mg)
- 1.2
- Magnesium (mg)
- 21
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 60
- Potassium (mg)
- 334
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.4
- Selenium (µg)
- 1.2
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown French Gray Shallot?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other alliums with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits French Gray Shallot suits these too.
- Red Baron Shallots 90 days
- Megaton 90 days
- Red Burgundy Shallot 90 days
- Purple de Lautrec Shallot 90 days
- Biker 90 days
- Giant Red Beard 90 days