About
Allium cepa 'Banana' is an elongated shallot characterized by its light brown skin and robust flavor. This variety is commonly known as the ‘banana’ type or echalion.
About the genus
Allium consists of bulbous herbaceous perennials characterized by a pronounced onion or garlic aroma. They feature linear, strap-like, or cylindrical leaves that arise from the base. The flowers, which can be star-shaped or bell-shaped, are arranged in an umbel atop a stem that lacks leaves.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Sand, Loam, Clay, Chalk
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbs - Culinary, Bulbs
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, moisture retentive, but well-drained soil in full sun. Consider liming if the soil is acid, pH below 6.5. See How to grow: shallots for further advice
- Pruning
- Not required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to onion fly and narcissus eelworm
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to onion white rot, onion downy mildews, leek rust and onion neck rot. Bolting, producing flowers, may be a problem