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 46°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 6 - 8 inches 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
  • "Tree Onions" (commons.wikimedia.org - Liez - CC BY 3.0)

Shallots are grown from small bulbs kept from the main plant. Once they are established, you can keep your supply going indefinitely by saving a few bulblets each year.

A type of small mild multiplying onion, popular in French cooking.

Tree onions or 'walking onions' produce bulbs at the top of the stem.

Shallots are not spring onions and are quite different to the green bunching 'Eschallots' (Allium fistulosum) which, just to confuse us, are also sometimes called 'shallots' in Eastern Australia.

They are more like garlic in their growth as they form a clump of bulbs at the base of the stem.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Shallots

Use in any recipe instead of onions.
Can be cooked whole, braised gently with other vegetables.
Sometimes pickled.

Your comments and tips

28 Jul 08, DavidH (Australia - temperate climate)
i've planted shallots seeds two weeks ago and was wondering how long till i see the seeds germinate?
28 Jul 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
DavidH, shallots take about 2 weeks to germinate, so you probably won't see anything for another week or so.
29 Jul 08, RayS (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Shallots have a different meaning depending on which state in Australia you live. Which do you mean, Allium fistulosum, also known as Spring Onions in some places, or Allium cepa Aggregatum Group (formerly Allium ascalonicum), sometimes called eschalots?
29 Jul 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
RayS, allium cepa but the growing conditions are similar for both a.cepa and a.fistulosum.
10 Sep 08, sue (Australia - temperate climate)
could you please tell me is this easy to grow and if so do you have any tips for me I live in Brisbane and Im ready to plant
28 Dec 08, Wendy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Does anyone know where I can get bulbs of the old-fashioned allium known as Potato Onion? They form little bulbs around the outside of the mother bulb, usually red-skinned, I've heard they're easy to grow, used to be common but are now rarely heard of. Much appreciated.
27 Jan 09, Grahame (Australia - temperate climate)
Wendy, potato onions are still around and in my opinion are the only things that should be called Eschallots, the others are just spring onions or green onions. I originally bought some from a good nursery in Canberra about 4 years ago as bulbs just like you would buy tulips or something similar. A nursery should be able to find you some, they probably just don't bother stocking them as they are 'out of fashion'. I have also noticed recently that there have been some for sale in one of the supermarket chains (safeway or woolworths) in the 'fresh food' section near the garlic. I have hundreds of them in a couple of varieties now as I'm looking at growing some organically for market so If you can't find any I might be able to organise to send you some if you like. Grahame
01 Feb 09, Adam (Australia - temperate climate)
I would love to try growing shallots (not spring onions) in Brisbane but cannot seem to be able to find seeds or seedlings anywhere. Anyone know where I might be able to find these? This is similar to what I am after: https://secure.diggersgardenclub.com.au/c-34-onions-shallots.aspx Thanks Adam
30 May 09, melody (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
could anyone tell me where to get banana shallots for growing (long red florence ) red onion?
07 Jun 09, carolyn (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
HI want to get some shallots- Grahame would love to buy some from you if you happen to see this, or if anybody else has some available. carolyn
Showing 1 - 10 of 183 comments

I have planted shallot seeds. When they are due to be harvested they are only as thick as a piece of 8 ply wool. How do I make them grow bigger?

- Kathleen Foxwell

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