What is Shallot?
{{Infobox cultivar | name = Shallot | image = Shallot onion Allium cepa.jpg | image_caption = A whole shallot | species = ''[[Allium cepa]] var. aggregatum'' | group = Aggregatum Group | origin = }} '''Shallots''' are a type of [[onion]]. They are a [[variety (botany)|botanical variety]] of the [[species]] ''Allium cepa''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fritsch R.M. & Friesen N. |editor=H.D. Rabinowitch and L. Currah |title=''Allium'' crop science: recent advances |url=https://archive.org/details/alliumcropscienc00curr |chapter=Chapter 1: Evolution, domestication, and taxonomy |year=2002 |publisher=CABI Publishing |location=Wallingford, UK |isbn=0-85199-510-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/alliumcropscienc00curr/page/21 21]}}</ref> The shallot was previously classified as a separate species, ''A. ascalonicum''.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Allium ascalonicum'' information |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?404738 |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=[[USDA]] |accessdate=2010-08-20 |archive-date=2010-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530025450/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?404738 |url-status=dead }}</ref> == Growth == Shallots seldom produce [[seed]]s.<ref name=SFGATE>{{cite web |url=http://homeguides.sfgate.com/propagate-shallots-23121.html |title=How to propagate shallots |author=Nannette Richford |date= |website= |publisher=SFGATE |accessdate=6 June 2015}}</ref> They are increased by dividing its compound [[bulb]]s.<ref name=SFGATE/> These are made up of several bulblets or cloves held together at the base. The bulblets are planted the same as [[onion]] sets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.harvesttotable.com/2012/02/early-planting-onions-shallots-and-garlic/ |title=Early planting onions, shallots, and garlic |author=Steve Albert |date= 15 February 2012|website= |publisher=Harvest to Table |accessdate=6 June 2015}}</ref> Each set develops into a compound set. The mature bulbs are [[harvest]]ed, [[Curing (food preservation)|cured]] and store