How to Grow Shallots: Planting, Care & Harvesting Tips

Shallots like neutral soil, with a pH of 6.0 to 7. Loose beds rich in organic matter and full sun are the recipe for growing shallots. They will grow, albeit a little slower and smaller, in partial sun and prefer slightly moist soil, but not wet. Shallots still need good drainage to prevent root rot. 

Shallots can be grown in containers as well. Choose a larger container at least 10 inches deep. You’ll need to closely monitor the soil moisture level—don’t let them dry out. 

When to Plant Shallots

Shallot bulbs can be planted in the late fall or early spring. Only where winters are extreme should a fall planting be avoided. Fall planting works for gardens in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8. If it is any colder, your sets will probably not survive; you will need to plant them in the spring instead. By planting in the spring, you will still get shallots, but they will be smaller and not quite as flavorful as the fall-planted ones. In warm gardens further south, they will not get the day length they need to produce big bulbs unless you can find short day shallots, which will start producing bulbs with only 10 to 12 hours of daylight.

It’s recommended that gardeners in Zones 9 to 11 grow multiplier or potato onions instead. They are very similar to shallots, producing clusters of onions from a single planted clove, and are good for hot climates.

In the early spring, plant sets or sow seeds from 2 to 4 weeks before your average last spring frost date. 

• If growing from seed, start shallot seeds indoors about 8 to 10 weeks prior to your last frost date so they’re ready to transplant in spring. 

In the fall, plant about the same time as garlic. When to plant varies, but generally, bulbs can be planted a week or two after your first fall frost date.

They mature in 100 to 120 days after planting, depending on variety. A late fall planting is ready in early summer. An early spring planting is ready in late summer.

How to Plant Shallots

Planting shallot bulbs is easy and quick. If your soil is soft, they can be poked in instead of digging a trench or hole.

To plant shallot cloves:

• Work the soil with a garden fork to about 6 inches deep and mix in an inch-thick layer of compost.
   
• Separate shallot bulbs into individual cloves.
   
• Plant each clove roots-down and top-up, about 6 inches apart in rows 1 foot apart. The top of the clove should show above the soil if planting in spring. If planting in fall, bury the clove one shallot deep.
   
• Water and mulch. A light covering of straw mulch will hide the bulbs from birds and squirrels without hindering sprouting. 

Tip: Shallots planted in the fall need a deep mulch covering—about 4 inches worth. Remove some of the mulch after the snow melts to help the sprouts find the light in spring. Over the winter, mulch can pack down. A thick, dense, wet layer can be difficult for new shallots to poke through. Leave just enough for weed control.