Zebrune Shallot
Best gourmet choice for home cooks seeking easy-to-prep, long-storing aromatics.
Discover the Zebrune Shallot, a distinctive French variety also known as an echalion or banana shallot. It masterfully blends the refined taste of a traditional shallot with the convenient slicing and peeling of an onion. These shallots feature elongated bulbs with appealing copper skin and crisp white flesh, making them a culinary delight. They are also excellent keepers, storing well into spring when properly cured. For optimal growth, start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost.
$3.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
190
/ 5876
#190 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
-72%
Below average
Days to Maturity
100
/ days
Who it's for
- Budget-conscious gardeners maximizing their harvest yield
- Gourmet cooks seeking a refined, sweet flavor profile
- Home cooks needing long-term pantry storage solutions
Who should skip it
- Busy gardeners lacking time for early indoor seed starting
- Gardeners in regions prone to unpredictable spring cold snaps
- Perfectionists requiring uniform bulb sizes for consistent presentation
Performance breakdown
Culinary Versatility
Banana shape makes slicing and peeling significantly faster than traditional shallots.
Storage Longevity
Exceptional curing qualities keep these bulbs fresh well into the spring.
Germination Reliability
Open-pollinated seeds offer consistent growth when soil temperatures remain stable.
Ease of Prep
Elongated bulbs minimize kitchen waste and simplify uniform chopping tasks.
Growth Cycle Efficiency
Hundred-day maturity requires patience but rewards with high-quality French yields.
Cultivation Accessibility
Straightforward indoor starting process makes them approachable for home vegetable gardeners.
Key Specs
Days to Maturity
100 days
Botanical Name
Allium cepa
Seed Count
100 seeds per packet
Germination Temperature
Optimum soil temperatures 60-75ºF
Seed Sowing Depth
1/4 inch deep
Indoor Start Time
8-10 weeks before last frost
Outdoor Planting Temperature
Soil temperature at least 55ºF
Plant Spacing
2-6 inches apart
Features
- Combines shallot flavor with onion ease
- Elongated shape for simple prep
- Excellent storage potential
- Easy to grow from seed
- Suitable for various climates
- Unique French variety
What customers say
Gardeners consistently praise the Zebrune Shallot seeds for their exceptional germination reliability, making them an easy and trustworthy choice for the home garden. The resulting shallots are noted for their superior quality, offering a sweet, mild flavor and an elongated shape that is easy to peel and prepare. Users frequently highlight the excellent storage life, which significantly enhances the value proposition by providing a reliable supply of high quality shallots well into the winter months. This product delivers a dependable and rewarding harvest.
Know before you buy
Zebrune, often called a banana shallot, features an elongated shape that makes it much easier to peel and slice than traditional, smaller shallots. It offers the refined, complex flavor of a shallot with the preparation convenience of a standard onion.
For the best results, you should start these seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date. While direct sowing is possible in some climates, starting them early ensures the plants have enough time to reach maturity during the growing season.
These are excellent keepers. When properly cured and stored in a cool, dry place, they can last well into the spring.
Zebrune shallots thrive in full sun with moderate watering, requiring about one inch of water per week. Ensure your soil temperature is at least 55ºF before transplanting them outdoors, and aim for a germination temperature between 60-75ºF if starting indoors.
You should space your plants 2 to 6 inches apart. Providing this distance allows for proper airflow and gives the bulbs enough room to develop their signature elongated shape.
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