[butterhead]

I'm going to be planting my garlic in the next day or two (Solent Wight) and am wondering is it too early to also plant my shallots, or should I wait and put them in at the same time as the onion sets in March? They're always smaller than I hope and thought they might grow bigger if they get off to an early start like the garlic.

[Blowin]

I'd see what your shallots say on the packet re. when to plant, but I think you'll find the over-wintering idea is intended to enable you to crop earlier, not produce bigger bulbs. With things like broad beans it also makes them more disease resistant.

I did try the idea some years ago but only got about 3-4 weeks benefit from it, and I found they were getting in the way with digging etc. during the winter so I gave up on it. Up to you.