How to Grow Shallot
Allium cepa var. aggregatum
Shallots are a versatile allium variety prized for their mild, sweet flavor that bridges onions and garlic. Gardeners cultivate them to add depth to sauces, salads, and roasts while enjoying a crop that is easy to grow in most climates.
📷 Wikipedia: ShallotStarting Shallot: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 2 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
Start seeds indoors two weeks before the last frost date, then harden off seedlings gradually before moving them outside.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 for best results. As a cool-season crop, plant seedlings indoors two weeks before the last frost or direct sow outdoors 2-6 weeks prior. Press seeds gently into the soil at a depth of about one inch; they typically germinate within seven to fourteen days.
Space plants six to eight inches apart in full sun to ensure proper bulb formation. Water moderately, keeping the soil consistently moist but not soggy throughout the season. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, avoiding contact with the necks to prevent rot.
Watch for onion flies or allium leaf miner; use row covers early in spring to deter pests. Fungal issues like botrytis can occur if foliage gets wet too long, so water at the base and ensure good air circulation. Harvest bulbs ninety to one hundred twenty days after planting when tops turn yellow and fall over.
When to Plant 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 |
