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 P P P          

(Best months for growing Shallots in Australia - tropical regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Plant small bulblets, with stem just showing above ground. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 15 - 20 cm 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?
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?
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
20 Jun 09, St.John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there, I like Carolyn am chasing some Eschallot bulbs to grow just outside Perth. Does any one have any bulbs to sell or can i just plant the ones i buy at the super market. Any tips would be great, thanks St.John
05 Jul 09, Grahame (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Carolyn and St.John, Sorry I just read this post again after a long time and I just finished re-planting all of the eshallots and potato onions I had left a week or so ago. I have planted a few thousand of each this year and plan to sell some after this harvest. I'm not sure if I would be allowed to send them to WA though as they seem to have restrictions on most plant materials. If you are still interested at after Christmas I can see about getting some to you. Is there some way of doing private message on here?
Showing 1 - 10 of 138 comments

I planted a number of shooting French Shallot bulbs earlier this year. I now have rows of beautiful plants. Today after checking if any bulbs were below the soil I have discovered that there are no bulbs only lots of plants that look like shallots or green onions. Could you please give me some advice on what may have happened. Also are the stems of the planrs able to be eaten like green onions? Thank you so much.

- Michelle

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.