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 Dec 13, G ZIMMER (Australia - temperate climate)
HOW DO I TREAT THEM AFTER HARVESTING,? DRYING THEM.
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03 Oct 13, Liz (Australia - temperate climate)
Mick, you're going to need to add a lot of manure and compost and if you can get it, bentonite clay (or Richgro's Sand to Soil). The soil in Perth is very, very sandy compared to anything in Queensland and you'll need to build it up a bit. As for nurseries, most Bunnings have a decent selection. Dawson's as well. And there's always someone selling homegrown starter plants at the Canning Vale markets on a Sunday.
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17 Sep 13, G. ZIMMER (Australia - temperate climate)
what soil conditions do I need for eschalots? where can I get bulbs in Perth w.a THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE G ZIMMER
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28 Jul 13, Mick (Australia - temperate climate)
I've just moved from the Gold Coast to Perth and want to start my veggie garden. Left a beauty in Queensland... Any suggestions for what's growing we'll in the cold? I'm loving the fresh mornings but need to change my gardening ideas to suit. A list of best nurseries/markets would be much appreciated :) Cheers & happy gardening.
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27 Jul 13, Nodswollef (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have a lovely crop of shallots growing. I sometimes pick some tops and eat them raw. Beautiful flavour. Can I continue to pick some of the tops from each plant, without effecting the quality of the bulbs to be harvested at the end on the year?
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12 Jul 13, Vee M (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can shallots or spring onions be grown in pots?
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30 May 13, SUE AURET (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Please can you advise where one can buy the shallot bulbs to grow?
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04 Aug 13, anita (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought my shallots and other plants, herbs online and can truly recommend how quickly the plants arrived and how well packed they are, :)
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28 Jun 13, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been searching for them for months and yesterday my wife found two packs of 6 in Bunnings Grafton - Good luck Mike
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08 Apr 13, Ana (Australia - temperate climate)
Are we speaking about the very small shallots as big a a garlic bulb or are we speaking about shallots that are like small onions? Thank you
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Showing 81 - 90 of 138 comments
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A true shallot is grown from bulbs. I plant 3 bulbs together. These can then grow into between 10 and 40 stalks. These stalks will form a bulb if left to do so. I generally pick the stalks before they flower and bulb. I leave the plant to bulb if I want bulbs for replanting and I sell the bulbs to Indian and Asian people for cooking. I believe a spring onion doesn't bulb but has a seed head. Scallions are like a spring onion but do not go to seed. They taste a bit like an onion. You can pick these and replant them, cut most of the top off and plant leaving some stalk sticking out of the soil. In some parts of the world shallots are called multiplying onion, potato onions and I'itoi onions.

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