Shallots, Scallions, and Leeks
at the Local Farmers Markets.
Shallots
Ambition Shallot
_ Type: Hybrid Variety Red shallot for long storage. Large bulb, French, half-long-style shallots with a warm reddish-copper skin and white flesh.
Flavor: The delicate flavor of Ambition will be a welcome addition to your kitchen repertoire.
Storage: A high quality, long storing shallot from seed. Once harvested, they'll store 60-90 days.
Maximum Head Weight: Ambition will produce 2 inch round. But most Bulbs measure 1 1/2-2 inches across.
Growing: This 'Rose of the Onion Family' is fairly easy to grow.
Harvest: 120 days.
From a grower’s perspective: Adaptability: 35-68° latitude.
Notes: A traditional globe-shaped shallot, but with a slightly higher shoulder like a French Shallot, and rust-colored skin. If onions upset your stomach, you will find shallots much easier to digest and less sharp-smelling.
Flavor: The delicate flavor of Ambition will be a welcome addition to your kitchen repertoire.
Storage: A high quality, long storing shallot from seed. Once harvested, they'll store 60-90 days.
Maximum Head Weight: Ambition will produce 2 inch round. But most Bulbs measure 1 1/2-2 inches across.
Growing: This 'Rose of the Onion Family' is fairly easy to grow.
Harvest: 120 days.
From a grower’s perspective: Adaptability: 35-68° latitude.
Notes: A traditional globe-shaped shallot, but with a slightly higher shoulder like a French Shallot, and rust-colored skin. If onions upset your stomach, you will find shallots much easier to digest and less sharp-smelling.
Picador Shallot
Type: Large, French, half-long style produces single bulbs.
Flavor: Delicate mild onion, sweet when sautéed.
Storage: Great for long-term storage.
Maximum Head Weight: 2½" to 3" diameter.
Harvest: Days to Maturity or Bloom: 105
From a grower’s perspective: Very similar to Ambition; Adaptability: 35-65° latitude
Notes: Reddish-brown skin with white flesh.
Flavor: Delicate mild onion, sweet when sautéed.
Storage: Great for long-term storage.
Maximum Head Weight: 2½" to 3" diameter.
Harvest: Days to Maturity or Bloom: 105
From a grower’s perspective: Very similar to Ambition; Adaptability: 35-65° latitude
Notes: Reddish-brown skin with white flesh.
Saffron Shallot
_ Type: Hybrid, Yellow variety.
Flavor: Mild onion garlic flavor. Very often used in fine french cuisine.
Storage: Suitable for very long storage, through spring.
Maximum Head Weight: Saffron is uniform in shape and size, with less external cloving than other yellow varieties.
Growing:
Harvest:
From a grower’s perspective: Adaptability: 35-65° latitude.
Notes: Excellent for long term storage. Saffron Shallot is a vigorous grower. Bulbs have an attractive brown skin with yellow flesh.
Flavor: Mild onion garlic flavor. Very often used in fine french cuisine.
Storage: Suitable for very long storage, through spring.
Maximum Head Weight: Saffron is uniform in shape and size, with less external cloving than other yellow varieties.
Growing:
Harvest:
From a grower’s perspective: Adaptability: 35-65° latitude.
Notes: Excellent for long term storage. Saffron Shallot is a vigorous grower. Bulbs have an attractive brown skin with yellow flesh.
_Conservor Shallot
_Type: Elongated bulbs have coppery red skins with cream-colored flesh and lilac interior rings.
Flavor: A wonderful, savory shallot that is easy to peel and superbly flavored. Conservor is quite versatile and is just as lovely in homemade vinaigrette as it is sautéed and served over your favorite meat dish.
Storage: Excellent storage life.
Maximum Head Weight: Bulbs are 2-3” long.
Growing: Adaptability: 35-65° latitude.
Harvest:
From a grower’s perspective: Compared to Ambition, Conservor has greater yield potential and is less blocky in shape, making it more similar to traditional French shallots.
Notes: Tear-drop shaped shallot with pale pink flesh and rosy pink-brown skin that is easy to peel.
Flavor: A wonderful, savory shallot that is easy to peel and superbly flavored. Conservor is quite versatile and is just as lovely in homemade vinaigrette as it is sautéed and served over your favorite meat dish.
Storage: Excellent storage life.
Maximum Head Weight: Bulbs are 2-3” long.
Growing: Adaptability: 35-65° latitude.
Harvest:
From a grower’s perspective: Compared to Ambition, Conservor has greater yield potential and is less blocky in shape, making it more similar to traditional French shallots.
Notes: Tear-drop shaped shallot with pale pink flesh and rosy pink-brown skin that is easy to peel.
Scallions
Evergreen Hardy White Scallion
AT Local Farmers Market ONLY.
_Type: Also known as Nebuka, a perennial bunching onion.
Origin: Heirloom from Japan originated in the 1880s.
Flavor: Mild onion
Storage: 2 to 3 days under refrigeration
Height: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Growing: Sow in spring for summer use or sow in fall for over wintering. If over wintered in the ground, develops clumps of scallions in the spring that can be harvested or divided and replanted.
Harvest: A welcome treat in April, one of the first fresh foods.
From a grower’s perspective: May be handled as a perennial by dividing the clumps the second summer to produce a new crop. Little or no bulbing. Open-pollination. The most winter-hardy bunching onion.
Notes: If your winters are severe, this is the one to grow.
Origin: Heirloom from Japan originated in the 1880s.
Flavor: Mild onion
Storage: 2 to 3 days under refrigeration
Height: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Growing: Sow in spring for summer use or sow in fall for over wintering. If over wintered in the ground, develops clumps of scallions in the spring that can be harvested or divided and replanted.
Harvest: A welcome treat in April, one of the first fresh foods.
From a grower’s perspective: May be handled as a perennial by dividing the clumps the second summer to produce a new crop. Little or no bulbing. Open-pollination. The most winter-hardy bunching onion.
Notes: If your winters are severe, this is the one to grow.
_Deep Purple Scallion
AT Local Farmers Market ONLY.
_Type: Bunching Onion- Scallion, Deep red-purple
Flavor: Mild onion, most flavorful of the scallions.
Storage: 2 to 3 days under refrigeration
Growing: Spring and summer sowing.
Harvest: 60 days to bloom
From a grower’s perspective: This scallion maybe the the first red bunching scallion that is highly colored at any temperature or age.
Notes: Great onion seed for the Gourmet Home Gardener. It’s hard to imagine a day without onions, an essential ingredient in many salads, soups and stews.
Flavor: Mild onion, most flavorful of the scallions.
Storage: 2 to 3 days under refrigeration
Growing: Spring and summer sowing.
Harvest: 60 days to bloom
From a grower’s perspective: This scallion maybe the the first red bunching scallion that is highly colored at any temperature or age.
Notes: Great onion seed for the Gourmet Home Gardener. It’s hard to imagine a day without onions, an essential ingredient in many salads, soups and stews.
Leeks
King Richard Leek
__ Type: Heirloom
Origin: Popular since first introduced in 1978
Flavor: Mild
Storage: 2 to 3 days under refrigeration
Maximum Head Weight: In favorable soil and culture, the white stems are over a foot long to the first leaf. Beautiful full-sized leeks.
Growing: While not hardy enough for over wintering, it will withstand medium-heavy frost (32° to 20°F/0° to -7°C) without losing its healthy appearance.
Harvest: Days to maturity: 75 days Earliest sowing ready - June/July, and later sowing - August/ September.
From a grower’s perspective: They have extra long, slim stems and light green flags and no earthing up required.
Notes: Upright plants are very straight and easy to clean. This variety stays ready for use until Christmas.
Origin: Popular since first introduced in 1978
Flavor: Mild
Storage: 2 to 3 days under refrigeration
Maximum Head Weight: In favorable soil and culture, the white stems are over a foot long to the first leaf. Beautiful full-sized leeks.
Growing: While not hardy enough for over wintering, it will withstand medium-heavy frost (32° to 20°F/0° to -7°C) without losing its healthy appearance.
Harvest: Days to maturity: 75 days Earliest sowing ready - June/July, and later sowing - August/ September.
From a grower’s perspective: They have extra long, slim stems and light green flags and no earthing up required.
Notes: Upright plants are very straight and easy to clean. This variety stays ready for use until Christmas.
Tadorna Leek
Type: Winter Leek
Flavor: Delicious mild flavors, wonderful for the fall and winter meals.
Storage: 2 to 3 days under refrigeration
Growing: This is a vigorous growing leek that produces a medium-length white shafted stem with contrasting, upright, dark blue-green foliage. It can over winter where in mild climates.
Harvest: Days to maturity:110 days It holds in the field for fall into winter harvest.
From a grower’s perspective: Tadorna is a favorite of growers in the Northeast for its vigorous growth and good resistance to disease.
Notes: Long shafts are easy to clean. This is a beautiful winter leek with a nice uniform shaft that slices well.
Flavor: Delicious mild flavors, wonderful for the fall and winter meals.
Storage: 2 to 3 days under refrigeration
Growing: This is a vigorous growing leek that produces a medium-length white shafted stem with contrasting, upright, dark blue-green foliage. It can over winter where in mild climates.
Harvest: Days to maturity:110 days It holds in the field for fall into winter harvest.
From a grower’s perspective: Tadorna is a favorite of growers in the Northeast for its vigorous growth and good resistance to disease.
Notes: Long shafts are easy to clean. This is a beautiful winter leek with a nice uniform shaft that slices well.
Lancelot Leek
Type: Fast growing variety
Flavor: Mild onion, perfect vegetable for a winter soup.
Storage:Under refrigeration
Maximum Head Weight: Stalks up to 12/14 inches long
Growing: This leek is good for a late harvest in cold areas or over wintering in milder areas. Mounding soil around the stems encourages more white stem in leeks. Under the best conditions, the thick white shafts can reach 12 to 14" in length..
Harvest: Days to maturity: 100 days
From a grower’s perspective: Lancelot leeks are the easiest to grow and most widely adaptable leeks available.
Notes: Good uniformity and cold tolerance, dark blue-green foliage and long, large-diameter shanks.
Flavor: Mild onion, perfect vegetable for a winter soup.
Storage:Under refrigeration
Maximum Head Weight: Stalks up to 12/14 inches long
Growing: This leek is good for a late harvest in cold areas or over wintering in milder areas. Mounding soil around the stems encourages more white stem in leeks. Under the best conditions, the thick white shafts can reach 12 to 14" in length..
Harvest: Days to maturity: 100 days
From a grower’s perspective: Lancelot leeks are the easiest to grow and most widely adaptable leeks available.
Notes: Good uniformity and cold tolerance, dark blue-green foliage and long, large-diameter shanks.
New Belt Chinese Leek
__Type: Garlic Chives New Belt
Flavor: Delicate garlic
Storage: Under refrigeration 3 days, can be dried.
Maximum Head Weight: Thin, flat leaves with delicate garlic flavor.
Growing: Sown during spring the optimum germinating temperature is 20C / 68F, sown in seed trays/modules or plugs 1cm / ¼ inch deep. Autumn sown seeds should be over wintered and planted out the following spring; they should be ready for their first harvest during late summer.
Harvest: 90 days to harvest.
From a grower’s perspective: Attractive white flowers in midsummer. An attractive perennial closely related to common Chives but with a mild garlic flavor rather than onion flavor. The blossom is a flat headed spray of star-shaped flowers that faintly smell of roses, so if grown indoors on a sunny windowsill they perfume your kitchen and can be as pretty as any flowering houseplant. The wide leaves are flat, solid, and dark green. The plant grows into a clump, instead of a single bulb, and forms many tubers on a horizontal rootstock.
Notes: Flowers are edible and make a great addition to bouquets. The budded flower stalks are sold as "Gow Choy" in Chinese grocery stores. Chinese Chives, Gow Choy (Chinese) or Nira (Japanese).
Flavor: Delicate garlic
Storage: Under refrigeration 3 days, can be dried.
Maximum Head Weight: Thin, flat leaves with delicate garlic flavor.
Growing: Sown during spring the optimum germinating temperature is 20C / 68F, sown in seed trays/modules or plugs 1cm / ¼ inch deep. Autumn sown seeds should be over wintered and planted out the following spring; they should be ready for their first harvest during late summer.
Harvest: 90 days to harvest.
From a grower’s perspective: Attractive white flowers in midsummer. An attractive perennial closely related to common Chives but with a mild garlic flavor rather than onion flavor. The blossom is a flat headed spray of star-shaped flowers that faintly smell of roses, so if grown indoors on a sunny windowsill they perfume your kitchen and can be as pretty as any flowering houseplant. The wide leaves are flat, solid, and dark green. The plant grows into a clump, instead of a single bulb, and forms many tubers on a horizontal rootstock.
Notes: Flowers are edible and make a great addition to bouquets. The budded flower stalks are sold as "Gow Choy" in Chinese grocery stores. Chinese Chives, Gow Choy (Chinese) or Nira (Japanese).
Ramps
Ramps (Wild Leeks)
_Well Yet another Allium. We are planting the seed out in the woods and just letting them go. Lets see what nature can provide. As of yet we have not seen their little heads in the spring, maybe 2014 will be the year!
Type: Allium tricoccum (Ramson)
Origin: native to the Appalachian mountain region in eastern North America (Fig. 1). Ramps can be found growing in patches in rich, moist, deciduous forests as far north as Canada, west to Missouri and Minnesota, and south to North Carolina and Tennessee.
Flavor: a pleasant combination of onions and strong garlic. Ramps are pleasant to eat and taste like spring onions with a strong garlic-like aroma.
Storage: They can be pickled or dried for use later in the year.
Growing: We have taken the seeds we have acquired and placed them through out our 25 acres of woods, let nature take its course.
Harvest: Early spring
Notes: The ramp has broad, smooth, light green leaves, often with deep purple or burgundy tints on the lower stems, and a scallion-like stalk and bulb. Both the white lower leaf stalks and the broad green leaves are edible. The flower stalk appears after the leaves have died back. Ramps grow in groups strongly rooted just beneath the surface of the soil.
Type: Allium tricoccum (Ramson)
Origin: native to the Appalachian mountain region in eastern North America (Fig. 1). Ramps can be found growing in patches in rich, moist, deciduous forests as far north as Canada, west to Missouri and Minnesota, and south to North Carolina and Tennessee.
Flavor: a pleasant combination of onions and strong garlic. Ramps are pleasant to eat and taste like spring onions with a strong garlic-like aroma.
Storage: They can be pickled or dried for use later in the year.
Growing: We have taken the seeds we have acquired and placed them through out our 25 acres of woods, let nature take its course.
Harvest: Early spring
Notes: The ramp has broad, smooth, light green leaves, often with deep purple or burgundy tints on the lower stems, and a scallion-like stalk and bulb. Both the white lower leaf stalks and the broad green leaves are edible. The flower stalk appears after the leaves have died back. Ramps grow in groups strongly rooted just beneath the surface of the soil.
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