How to Grow French Gray Shallot
Allium cepa var. aggregatum 'French Gray'
French Gray Shallots are flavorful allium bulbs prized for their mild taste and excellent storage life. Gardeners grow them to add depth to sauces or enjoy fresh in salads without overpowering other ingredients.
Starting French Gray Shallot: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — French Gray Shallot is not usually started indoors.
Plant bulb sets directly into the garden two to six weeks before the last frost date; do not start from seed indoors.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Since these are grown from bulb sets rather than seeds, plant them directly into the ground two to six weeks before your last spring frost. Do not sow indoors as germination data is unavailable for seed starts; focus on getting the sets in early.
Space bulbs four to six inches apart in full sun. Water consistently with about one inch per week during active growth, but reduce watering significantly as the bulbs mature to prevent rot. Apply a light mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds while feeding is generally unnecessary for established sets.
Watch for onion thrips, bulb mites, or maggot larvae, which can be managed with row covers or by removing infected plants early. Prevent neck rot, downy mildew, and purple blotch by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest the bulbs 90 to 120 days after planting when they begin to yellow.
When to Plant French Gray Shallot
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | July – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | June – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | May – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | May – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | April – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | April – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | April – December |
Companion Plants for French Gray Shallot
✓ Good companions
Shallots deter cabbage worms, flea beetles, and aphids that plague cabbage family plants
Shallots repel carrot fly while carrots help break up soil for shallot bulb development
Shallots repel aphids and root maggots that damage lettuce, while lettuce doesn't compete for space
Both plants have similar growing requirements and parsley attracts beneficial insects
Shallots repel aphids and may improve pepper flavor while not competing for nutrients
Shallots deter aphids, thrips, and other rose pests while potentially reducing black spot disease
Shallots repel slugs and other pests while improving strawberry flavor and growth
Shallots deter aphids and other pests that commonly attack tomato plants
✗ Keep away from
Both are heavy feeders that compete for similar nutrients, potentially stunting growth of both crops
Legumes can inhibit allium growth and shallots may stunt bean development
Alliums can inhibit nitrogen fixation in peas and stunt their overall growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
