As we head toward the shortest day of the year, much of the vegetable patch might seem asleep. However, even in the dark days of December there is one unusual, exotic vegetable that is just to be planted. This rare crop is much prized by French chefs for its and complexity of flavour. Sadly, it’s rarely to be in even the fanciest UK supermarkets, although it’s a real cinch to grow. If you’re a Brit, what you know as a shallot is nearly merely a small variety of onion. These have been traditionally for their diminutive size and for a slightly milder flavour. As often happens with plant common names, these shallots aren’t actually shallots at all. They have just been traditionally labelled as because of their passing resemblance to the real deal, despite being a totally different species.