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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12 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Shallots are generally grown from bulbs. What is sold in supermarkets is spring onions. A lot of difference. (Shallots are available in some NZ supermarkets - intended for cooking - Ed:)
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07 Feb 19, Terry (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Can I replant my new shallot bulbs straight away?
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19 Sep 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
True shallots grow as a clump of up to 12-20 bulbs and when developed are purple skinned. If you keep some of these from one year to the next, all you need to do is plant 2-3 bulbs together and space them about 8-9
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17 May 18, Jonathan Pursley (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Can I grow shallots successfully indoors under lights? If so what light cycle will be most successful?
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03 Jan 18, Robert Gallo (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Good Day I would like to start shallot farming please let me know where i can get shallot bulbs and seeds. With Regards Robert Gallo
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08 Feb 18, Astrid (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Try www.theseedvault.co.za. They sell the Matador Shallot (one of the shallots grown from seeds, not bulbs - so it's cheaper to grow). I have no idea if they can provide enough for you to grow them wholesale, but if not they might be able to point you in the right direction. Good luck!
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08 Aug 17, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi thank you for you advice very informative for us beginners . My wife and I are now retirees and are getting into the veggies and live it we are growing onions of all types for the first time shallots with no bulb having great results so we have planted bought from retailer golden shallots it has 3 thick stems coming from base massive leaves do they fall over like normal onions when they are due to be harvested ? as we don't know when they are ready thank you again peter Oran Park nsw
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10 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I don't grow onions because they take so long to grow. We can buy onion in the shops for $1-1.50 a kg. The reason I grow shallots (a lot of people mix up shallots with spring onions and even eshallots) is because they are so easy and quick to grow and you keep bulbs from one year for the next year to plant. I planted some on Monday and they are shooting out of the ground today - Thursday - will be eating them in about 5 weeks time. Happy gardening - great rewards from eating what you grow.
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31 Jul 17, Michelle (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted a number of shooting French Shallot bulbs earlier this year. I now have rows of beautiful plants. Today after checking if any bulbs were below the soil I have discovered that there are no bulbs only lots of plants that look like shallots or green onions. Could you please give me some advice on what may have happened. Also are the stems of the planrs able to be eaten like green onions? Thank you so much.
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01 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have looked up French shallots and they look a bit different to mine. My shallots are a cluster (when mature) of 6-12 segments, lightly attached together. As I pointed out below, if I grow them into the winter (planted Feb March April) they take a bit longer to form bulbs - they stay like a spring onion for longer - straight with no bulb. Left long enough they will bulb up. If I plant say now (August), when they mature in the hotter weather in Oct/Nov they go to bulb very quickly. I don't eat much of the green top but some do eat it. My suggestion is give them time to bulb. I eat them before they really bulb up - we eat them in salads, sandwiches or straight as they are raw.
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Showing 61 - 70 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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