Crème Brûlée is an F1 hybrid shallot that brings elegance and reliability to the vegetable garden. This eschalion type matures in 105 days from seed and thrives in zones 3 through 9, making it accessible to gardeners across much of North America. The variety earns its sophisticated name through its culinary excellence, delivering the refined flavor shallots are prized for in the kitchen. With a compact growth habit and moderate water needs, it's a straightforward crop that rewards attention to soil preparation and spacing.
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Moderate
3-9
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High
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The Crème Brûlée's strength lies in its hybrid vigor combined with the classic shallot character home cooks crave. It forms reliable single bulbs when planted at the recommended 2-inch spacing, eliminating the guesswork that sometimes plagues shallot growing. The eschalion type designation signals its superior flavor profile and kitchen performance, making it as much a choice for serious home cooks as for market growers seeking consistency and quality.
Crème Brûlée shallots are prized in the kitchen for the refined, complex flavor that distinguishes shallots from onions. They excel in vinaigrettes, pan sauces, and any preparation where their subtle sweetness and gentle bite enhance rather than overwhelm. French cuisine particularly celebrates shallots in this way, and this hybrid variety's consistent quality makes it reliable for both everyday cooking and special meals.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
In short-season areas, sow seeds indoors in late February through mid-March in flats, spacing seeds 1/2 inch apart and covering with 1/4 inch of soil. Clip tops to 5 inches tall before transplanting. Alternatively, sow 5 seeds per cell in 1- to 1 1/2-inch diameter plug trays and thin to 3 plants per cell once established.
Transplant seedlings to the garden 4 inches apart when conditions allow, or space each 3-plant cell 6 inches apart. Ensure soil temperature and conditions support establishment.
Harvest when bulbs reach full maturity at 105 days from seed. Bulbs are ready when foliage begins to yellow and fall over naturally. Lift bulbs carefully from the soil and allow them to cure in a warm, well-ventilated location before storage.
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