Long French red shallot-courtesy of Au Potager

Bonjour! I just read a post on Au Potager’s page on ‘Shallot Wars’ and what the difference is between French shallots and Dutch shallots. Great post and very informative about the three varieties of French shallots. The French think their varieties (which are grown from bulbs) are much better than the Dutch variety (which can be grown from seed). At the end she writes that she didn’t think you could get the french varieties in the US (she lives in France) and if anyone in the US finds a source for them to let her know.

So I researched it online and found a source! The French varieties can be found at John Scheeper’s Kitchen Garden Seeds here. I love shallots and their flavor-more delicate than onions and no tears!  Great in vinegarettes, or sauteed and put in sauces.

French Grey shallot-courtesy of Au Potager

I’ve grown a red shallot variety before (not sure if it was the french type) but I’m going to try the ‘French Red shallot’ this spring and grow the French Gray Shallot’ (which is suppose to be the best) next fall—that’s when your suppose to plant the grey variety. Shallots originated in Palestine, need full sun and good soil drainage. They do well here in Santa Fe. John Scheeper’s Kitchen Garden seed catalog page above gives some great planting instructions for them so go there to get them. Au revoir!!