How to Grow Red Baron Shallots
Allium cepa var. aggregatum 'Red Baron'
Red Baron Shallots are a flavorful variety of allium prized for their vibrant red skins and mild, sweet onion taste. Gardeners grow them to add depth to sauces, salads, and roasted dishes while enjoying a productive cool-season crop that tolerates light frosts.
📷 Wikipedia: OnionStarting Red Baron Shallots: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
If starting indoors, move sturdy seedlings outdoors once they are large enough to handle carefully, ensuring the soil is cool but no longer freezing.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 for optimal growth. Sow seeds indoors or direct-sow them 2-6 weeks before the last spring frost, as this is a cool-season crop. Press seeds gently into the soil at a depth of about half an inch. Expect germination to occur within 14 to 21 days after sowing.
Space plants 4 to 6 inches apart in rows to ensure good air circulation. These shallots do not require support or trellising as they grow upright. Maintain consistent moisture throughout the season, watering regularly but avoiding waterlogged soil. Apply a light mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds once seedlings are established.
Watch for onion thrips and fly maggots, which can damage foliage; use row covers or organic sprays if infestations occur. Prevent downy mildew and neck rot by ensuring good drainage and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest the shallots 90 to 120 days after planting when the tops begin to yellow and fall over.
When to Plant Red Baron Shallots
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 Red Baron Shallots
✓ Good companions
Shallots deter cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, and flea beetles from brassicas
Shallots repel carrot flies while carrots help break up soil for shallot bulb development
Shallots repel aphids and slugs while lettuce provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Both plants have similar growing requirements and parsley attracts beneficial insects
Shallots help repel aphids and spider mites while peppers don't compete for nutrients
Shallots deter leaf miners and aphids while spinach provides living mulch
Shallots repel slugs, snails, and aphids that damage strawberry plants and fruit
Shallots deter aphids, spider mites, and nematodes that commonly attack tomatoes
✗ Keep away from
Both are perennial alliums that compete for similar soil nutrients and growing space
Nitrogen fixation by beans can cause excessive leaf growth in shallots at expense of bulb developmen…
Like beans, peas add too much nitrogen which promotes foliage over bulb formation
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
