Growing Shallots, also Eschalots

Allium cepa, aggregatum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    P           P      

(Best months for growing Shallots in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Plant small bulblets, with stem just showing above ground. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 6 - 8 inches apart
  • Harvest in 12-15 weeks. Keep a few for your next planting.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Lemon Balm, Borage, Carrots, Beets, Silverbeet, Lettuce, Amaranth
  • Avoid growing close to: Peas, Beans

Your comments and tips

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29 Jun 18, Jean (Australia - temperate climate)
I have just purchased some shallot bulbs which I want to plant in the garden beds. Just recent;y I smothered the garden beds in dried chicken manure hoping to fertilise the soil for spring planting. My instructions say "enrich soil with a low nitrogen fertiliser". Would this soil now be too rich in nitrogen? What would be a low nitrogen fertiliser that I could buy?
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02 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - temperate climate)
Depends how rich the soil was before you put the chicken manure on. Either rake some of it away from where you are going to plant the bulbs, it not dug in already. Or dig the manure in a couple of times to spread it throughout the soil profile. I like to give my shallots a bit of a hit with fertiliser to make them strong (and produce good big bulbs for planting next year for the ones I keep).
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16 Jun 18, Claire (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
What time of year should I plant shallot seeds. I am in Canterbury
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18 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You found this web site. You put in your climate zone and looked up shallots. Shallots are generally grown from bulbs. I have never tried from seeds because the bulbs are so easy.. Maybe you are talking about spring onions.
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19 Jun 18, kate (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Mike, I noticed that too. Some states call spring onions shallots, even though they're two different things. Can be very confusing. Maybe try French shallots or Golden shallots? Not sure what they call actual shallots.
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20 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Type into google "shallot bulbs" go to the " Images of shallot bulbs". Look through the different photos. The photos where there a bunch of bulbs stuck together are what I believe are shallots. They are the kind I have been growing for 37 years and my mother for probably 25 years before that. A lot of the photos they look like they are single plant bulb. Yes there is a difference for eshallots, shallots, spring onions, French shallots. Hope you work out when is the best time to plant. I live Bundy Qld and I can grow shallots all year.
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14 Oct 19, manfred (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Mike - I have just moved into the area (near Howard) and have a few shallots growing. I am able to dedicate a small raised bed to them and am wondering if I can just leave them growing and harvest as I want to use them, as long as I occasionally lift and replant.
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03 Aug 18, Stacey (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Mike, I also live in Bundy, I am about to plant some shallot sets that I purchased from the nursery. Some of the sets have a couple of bulbs joined toghether at the root base, like a bulb of garlic has individual cloves within the whole bulb. Do I separate these to only plant one little bulb, or do I leave them joined together and plant as is? Thanks for your time, Stacey
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08 Jun 18, (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Buy in supermarket vegetable aisle
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30 May 18, Pam (New Zealand - temperate climate)
please can you tell me where I can purchase small round shallots seed in NZ
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Showing 51 - 60 of 183 comments
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If putting in pots make sure to have good rich loose soil. The only time I have poor shallots is when they grow in the shade (winter sun comes across the end of the row). The best shallots I grow, are from now into the winter. I read below how people leave the plant to nearly die before picking. I pick mine before the plant goes to seed. I eat shallots nearly every day when I have them producing in the garden. In scrabble eggs, in tossed salads, in soups, on a sandwich with tomato meat cheese, or even just whole on the plate with other salads.

- Mike

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