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 8°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 15 - 20 cm 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.
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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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