Why Haven't My Dormant Shallots Sprouted?

I attempted to grow onion shallots in a poly tunnel for spring use, but out of the 15 I planted on 1/10/11, only 2 have sprouted and are 2 inches long. The rest have small roots only. Have they been treated with anti-sprouting chemicals?

If the shallots had been treated with anti-sprouting chemicals, none of them would have sprouted, making it unlikely to be the case. More likely, warm weather during the autumn kept them dormant, or at least most of them. With some cold weather, the shallots should recover. However, there is a danger of bolting, which means producing flowers when shallots are planted so early.