Good old Monty Don (BBC TV Gardener's World) shared a good tip for preparing shallots for their summer beds. Place the 'sets' sitting in modules filled with compost (any old stuff will do). After a week or so they will have developed huge roots. I tried this and it worked a treat. In fact I had to cut them out of the modules. They are now growing like mad under nets to stop birds uprooting them.
