Today, I’m trying something simple but quite exciting: growing shallots in a recycled box using a mixture of soil and compost.
I don’t actually have a lot of space to grow vegetables, so this time I decided to make use of some old boxes I had at home. Instead of letting them sit unused, why not turn them into small containers for growing shallots?
Preparing the Compost
For the growing medium, I’m using compost from a factory industry. I’m hoping this compost will provide a good environment for the shallots to grow.
I’m not an agricultural expert, so you could say this is just my own little experiment. Honestly, the most interesting part is waiting to see what happens next.
Will the shallots grow healthy and strong, or will this experiment fail?
Well, that’s exactly what makes me curious.
A Recycled Box Can Actually Become a Mini Garden
I’m using an old plastic box as a container for growing the shallots.
At first, it might just look like an ordinary item that is no longer being used. But once I filled it with soil, it suddenly started to look like a little garden.
I also made several holes at the bottom so excess water can drain away and doesn’t stay in the soil for too long.
In my opinion, gardening doesn’t always require expensive pots. If there are unused items around the house that can still be put to good use, why not turn them into something useful?
Preparing the Growing Medium
The first step, of course, is preparing the growing medium.
I’m using a mixture of soil and industrial compost that I have on hand. I put the soil into the box and then spread it evenly, making a nice surface for planting the shallots.
It may look simple, but this is actually one of my favorite parts. Starting with nothing but soil, then slowly watching something grow from it, is what makes gardening so satisfying.
Once the growing medium was ready, I started loosening and smoothing the soil using a small gardening tool.
Soil that is too compact can make it difficult for the shallot bulbs to develop properly.
As I worked the soil, I started imagining what this little box might look like a few weeks from now, with green leaves growing from each shallot I planted.
If they all grow successfully, it would be really satisfying to see this simple little box slowly turn into a mini shallot garden.
The Shallots I’m Going to Plant
Here they are the main stars of this little experiment.
Shallots!
I selected several bulbs that were still in good condition and showed no signs of rot. Before planting them, I checked each one carefully.
They aren’t all exactly the same size, but I decided to plant several of them together so I can compare how they grow.
Now I’m curious: will the larger shallot bulbs grow faster than the smaller ones? I guess I’ll have to wait and see!
Time to Start Planting
Now we’ve reached the part I’ve been waiting for.
I started placing the shallots into the soil one by one. I didn’t bury the entire bulb; I left part of each one slightly above the surface.
Oh, and one little thing I did before planting them: I cut off the top of each shallot bulb to help encourage faster sprouting. Then I carefully spaced them out so each shallot would have enough room to grow.
Right now, they still look like ordinary shallots sitting in the soil... But hopefully, in just a few days, I’ll start seeing those little green shoots appear.
Now the waiting game begins!
Everything Is Planted
Finally, all the shallots are in the box. Looking at them now, it’s not particularly exciting yet. There are no green leaves, no harvest, and I don’t even know if all of them will successfully grow.
But I think that’s exactly what makes gardening fun. We plant something today, and then we have to be patient and wait. Every time I check the box, I’ll probably find myself wondering:
“Have they started growing yet?”
It honestly makes me a little nervous and excited at the same time, waiting to see the first green shoots appear.
The Little Experiment Begins
And finally, everything is done, two simple boxes, some soil, compost, several shallots, and a little curiosity.
There was nothing particularly special about today's process, but I actually enjoy simple moments like this. I want to see whether these shallots planted in recycled boxes can really grow and eventually produce new bulbs.
If this experiment works, maybe next time I’ll try planting even more.
But what if it fails?
Well... we learn from our failures and try again.
Now I’m curious about what you think:
**How many days do you think it will take before the first shallot shoots appear? **
A. 3–5 days
B. 7–10 days
C. More than 10 days
Let’s see who gets the closest answer!
