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

22 Feb 12, Jane (Australia - tropical climate)
So, just wondering, do the same rules apply for growing spring onions?
05 Jun 11, Cecilia (Australia - temperate climate)
How can you tell if shallots (bought from a supermarket) have been sprayed to stop sprouting?
02 Jun 11, arthur (Australia - temperate climate)
The shallots perchased from the super market are now 50mm high.These I soaked in water with a litte thrive for a few days before planting. (arthur the mad gardener)
19 May 11, arthur (Australia - arid climate)
I posted this for garlc which has been a geat success.Buy a shallot from the super market,place it in a small con. put in 5mm of water with a little thrive or seasol leave for three or four days.check the base for sign's of roots.If all goes well seperate and plant.I planted mine yesterday.If you wait I will let you know as soon as they show. Athur ( the mad gardner)
06 Apr 11, Paul Beau (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I live in the Tampa Bay (Fla.) area.......Can I plant shallots here & can you give me some help ? I get great morning sun, then good indirect for the rest of the day......Thank You Paul
23 Jan 11, Tim (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Has anyone experimented with replanting both small and large bulbs from the previous year? There seems to be a difference of opinion on whether it is better to replant the smallest bulbs or the largest bulbs. any thoughts/experience much appreciated! Tim
06 Dec 10, Godfrey Sutton (Australia - temperate climate)
I have shallots growing like wildfire from a few that i started by using the 'flower tips, small bulbs' that grew on shallots that i planted last year. Should i leave the 'flower tips, small bulbs' this year or are they detrimental to the main shallot, if so how do i handle them, just bend over like garlic etc? ,
30 Sep 10, Heather Pearson (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I grow my shallots from seed from August through to October, also red and pukekohe onions. That way I get lots of plants and they do very well. I stagger seed sowing so they do not all mature at once. I fertilise with lots of sheep pellets and blood and bone.
02 Aug 10, Dave (Australia - temperate climate)
OK I have a question regarding the confusion (or rather my confusion) about what a shallot actually is? I watch a lot of cooking shows and particularly the american shows whenever they show a "shallot" its like a small white bulbous onion roughly the size of golfball which is what I want to grow. Whenever I search for shallot here in Western Australia I am told a shallot is another name for a spring onion?? To me a spring onion is a tall green tubular leaf (the edible part) with a tiny white bulb which is usually discarded (although this year i replanted) I want to grow the small golfball looking onion, where do i find them? I dont even see them on the supermarket shelves. Are they called something different?
12 Aug 10, (Australia - temperate climate)
thanks for commenting. I planted maybe 40 small bulbs so I'll leave a few to grow out and see what happens. thanks again.
Showing 131 - 140 of 183 comments

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