Shallots are a versatile and tasty vegetable that are perfect for planting in the fall garden. With their mild sweet onion flavor, homegrown shallots are a real delicacy and add delicious depth to many dishes. By planting shallot bulbs in the autumn and caring for them through winter, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of these gourmet alliums come springtime.
Shallots (Allium cepa var aggregatum) are closely related to onions but have a more subtle nuanced taste. Unlike regular bulbing onions shallots grow in clusters, with each bulb containing multiple cloves covered in thin, papery copper skin. The bulbs range in size from that of a cherry tomato to a small plum.
Shallots are considered a staple in many European and Asian cuisines, where their mellow sweetness is perfect for sauces, soups, braises, roasts, and more. They can be used in place of onions when a milder flavor is desired. When cooked, shallots become very tender and develop a sweet, nutty taste.
When to Plant Shallots
While shallots can be planted in either spring or fall, a fall planting will produce larger bulbs with better flavor. For best results, the ideal time to plant shallot bulbs is 4-6 weeks before your anticipated first autumn frost. Planting in fall allows the shallot roots to become established before the dormancy of winter sets in.
Fall planting works well for gardeners in zones 5-9. Those in zones 9-11 should seek out varieties bred for shorter day lengths. Gardeners in cooler climates above zone 5 may need to opt for a spring shallot planting instead.
Selecting Shallot Sets for Planting
When purchasing shallot bulbs for planting, choose sets that are plump, firm, and free of any sprouting, mold, damage, or other flaws. Good quality bulbs will have some loose, papery outer skin. The sets should not be mushy or show any signs of rot.
Popular shallot varieties well-suited for home gardens include:
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French Grey/Griselle – The classic French shallot with superb flavor.
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Yellow Moon – Mild, golden yellow bulbs.
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Red Sun – Rose-colored bulbs that store very well.
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Golden Gourmet – Fast growing with large bulbs.
For best results, buy shallot sets from a reputable source. Avoid non-certified supermarket bulbs, which may carry diseases.
Preparing the Planting Area
Shallots need loose, fertile soil with good drainage and plenty of organic matter to grow their best. Here are some tips for preparing your planting beds:
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Loosen soil to a depth of 12 inches, breaking up any large clumps.
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Mix 1-2 inches of aged compost or well-rotted manure into the top 6 inches of soil.
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Test that the pH is around 6.5-7.0. Shallots prefer neutral to slightly acidic conditions.
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Plant in raised beds or ridges if drainage needs improvement.
Also consider:
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Full sun exposure (at least 6 hours daily) is ideal.
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Avoid planting shallots in the same spot as recent onion or garlic crops.
When and How to Plant Shallot Bulbs
For a fall crop, aim to plant your shallot sets approximately 4-6 weeks before your expected first autumn frost date. This gives the roots time to grow and anchor before winter.
Follow these steps when planting shallot bulbs:
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Break apart bulbs into individual cloves. Keep the papery skins intact.
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Use a trowel to make holes 4-6 inches apart and 1-2 inches deep.
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Place a single clove in each hole with the pointed end facing down and the rounded end just above soil level.
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Backfill holes and firm soil gently around bulbs.
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Water thoroughly after planting.
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Consider mulching beds once ground has frozen to insulate plants.
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For higher yields, double up rows 6-8 inches apart. But avoid overcrowding bulbs.
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Planting too deeply can reduce bulb size. Leaving tips slightly exposed prevents rotting.
Caring for Shallots Over Winter
Shallots need minimal care throughout the winter:
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Water occasionally during dry spells if bulbs start sprouting.
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Once temperatures drop, add 4-6 inches of mulch such as leaves or straw to prevent frost heaving.
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In early spring, remove any matted mulch to allow new shoots to emerge.
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Weed carefully to prevent competition for nutrients.
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In late winter, top-dress plants with 1-2 inches of finished compost or manure.
Harvesting Shallot Bulbs
If planted in fall, shallots will be ready for harvesting in early-mid summer. Here’s what to look for as maturity nears:
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Foliage starts yellowing and falling over.
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Necks begin to soften.
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Sample bulbs taste sweet and mild.
To harvest:
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Loosen soil with a digging fork, lifting bulbs gently.
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Allow plants to dry upside down for 1-2 weeks in a shady, well-ventilated area.
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Once fully dried, trim tops to 1 inch and store bulbs in a cool, dry place.
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Cured shallots keep for up to 6 months. Refrigerate only for short-term storage.
And don’t forget to save your best, biggest shallot bulbs to replant in autumn!
Enjoying Your Shallot Harvest
Homegrown shallots offer so many tasty ways to add flavor to meals:
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Sauté in olive oil and add to omelets, pastas, salad dressings, etc.
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Roast whole bulbs drizzled with oil until caramelized and tender.
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Pickle in vinegar for a tangy sandwich topping.
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Use in place of onions for a more delicate flavor in soups, braises, stews.
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Stuff whole bulbs with cheese and bake.
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Add minced shallots to compound butters.
With proper technique, planting and caring for shallots in the fall garden is easy and rewarding. Follow this guide, and soon you’ll be enjoying their sweet oniony goodness fresh from your own backyard.
THE SHALLOTS DISCUSSED IN THIS NEWSLETTER AREAVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:https://www.harvesting-history.com/product-category/roots-sets/shallots/
This newsletter contains information that was discussed in our August 24, 2019 newsletter. However, if you are like me, I was not paying attention to shallots in August, so I am repeating and embellishing the info from that newsletter. Shallots are believed to have originated in the region of Palestine and Israel, specifically a port city now a part of Israel known as Ashkelon. It is a curious fact that the term, scallion, which we use to describe bunching onions, is a corruption of Ashkelon. The shallot’s scientific name, Allium cepa, describes a group of onion-like plants including onions, walking onions and multiplier onions. Years ago, shallots were called multiplier onions, but today that term is reserved for a special class of onions. Sometime during the 1600s shallots were introduced into the United States and they have been a part of American cuisine ever since. The shallots sets Harvesting History sells are ‘currently’ called Dutch Red Shallots – Aristo. I put currently in quotes because this shallot has a long naming history. According to the distinguished plant historian, William Woys Weaver, from his fascinating and lovingly written book, 100 Vegetables and Where They Came From, what we call the Dutch Red Shallot was originally called a banana shallot and it was indigenous to Spain. There are paintings from the 17th century which show banana shallots as part of a still life grouping, but the shallot was probably known and used as early as the 1500s. Though this banana shallot originated in Spain it was the French who fell deeply in love with this vegetable and developed a panoply of culinary applications for it which ranged from soups to condiments to desserts. Shallots are sold as sets, but unlike onion sets where each ‘set’ is a baby onion and will produce a single mature onion, a shallot ‘set’ can be a nearly mature single shallot and this shallot will produce 4-6 mature shallots. From a single sack of 6 shallots you should expect to get 25-40 shallots.
Shallot Sets – Buy Now for FALL Planting Shallots benefit greatly from being planted in soil that has been amended with Rock Phosphate and Potash. You can dust the soil with both nutrients before turning it to plant the shallot sets or you can dust the soil with the nutrients after you have planted the shallot sets. I usually dust the soil after I have planted the shallot sets.
Applying Rock Phosphate to the Shallot Garden Shallots should be planted about 2 inches deep. The “Rule of Thumb” for planting garlic, onions, elephant garlic and shallots is to plant them a ‘set’ deep, meaning the depth of one onion set, shallot set, etc. However, I have found that planting at this depth is too shallow. With a good 2 inches of soilon top of the set, it is much less likely to be spit out of the soil during the winter’s many freeze-thaw cycles. Mulching with straw also helps prevent the sets from being spit out of the soil.
Shallot Set Planting Shallots should be planted late in the fall. In Hardiness Zones 1-3, shallots should be planted in late September or early October. In Hardiness Zones 4-7, shallots should be planted in late October through November and sometimes early December, depending on the autumn weather. What you want to achieve by planting the shallot sets in the fall is having the shallot produce enough of aroot structure to anchor it firmly in the soil and to keep it firmly anchored through the winter frost heaves caused by the freeze-thaw cycles. In Hardiness Zones 7-9, shallot sets should not be planted before December. Plant your sets at least 6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. The shallot sets may produce a little bit of green growth during the fall, but this will die back when hit by repeated frosts.
Shallots Ready for Harvesting Throughout the winter, if you have access to ashes from a fireplace orwoodburing stove, dust the surface of the soil where you have the shallots planted with the ashes. They love this. In late winter, before shoots appear, dust your shallot garden with some lime. This will sweeten your shallots. In the spring, each shallot set will begin to form a cluster of shallots and produce a grouping of small, onion-like green leaves. They are actually quite pretty and can make a lovely garden border if space is at a premium in your garden. Do not apply additional fertilizer in the spring and do not water once the shallots, themselves, have begun to break the surface of the soil.
“Get Us Out of Here” – Shallots Ready for Harvesting One of the many things I love about shallots is that they are very outspoken, and when they are ready to be harvested, they let you know. Their top growth turns mostly brown and falls over. “Get Us Out of Here” they shout, as they emerge, fully, from the soil, splaying themselves dramatically over the surface of the soil. When this happens, it is time to harvest. The shallot clusters are very, very easy to harvest – a trowel and your hand pulling the top growth of the cluster is all that you need.
Shallots Ready for Drying Once all the shallots have been removed from the soil, they need to be dried. Pick a dry place that has good air circulation and that is out of the direct sunlight. The place does not have to be dark. Arrange the shallots in a single layer and knock off as much soil as possible. Depending on the outsideweather, it will take 2-3 weeks for the shallots to cure. Once the shallots have dried, you can store them, and the following advice is the most valuable of this newsletter. Shallots deteriorate very rapidly lasting no more than 1-2 months UNLESS you store them in the refrigerator. If stored in the refrigerator, shallots last forever (well, not really, but for more than a year, anyway). I learned this lesson the hard way losing several crops to rot, so I am sharing this garden wisdom with each of you. Stored shallots last so much longer than onions or garlic. It is truly amazinShallots are such a great vegetable to grow in your gardens and so very versatile. They can replace onions in any dish, and they make heavenly, crispy fried shallots. They outlast all the other root vegetables which makes them much more economical. I hope you will try shallots this year. Once you do, they will become a permanent part of your garden repertoire.
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FAQ
How late can shallots be planted?
A member of the onion family, shallots can be planted in the late fall for an early summer harvest or in the early spring for a late summer crop. Only where winters are extreme should a fall planting be avoided. Otherwise, fall and spring plantings will create a double harvest.
What should not be planted near shallots?
Onions, garlic, leeks, and shallots can stunt the growth of plants like pole beans and peas. You also don’t want to plant onions, garlic, leeks, and shallots near each other because if one crop comes down with pests (onion maggots) the rest will also fall victim, like a bad case of head lice.
What is the autumn care of shallot?
Located near the shores of North Carolina, Autumn Care of Shallotte offers a variety of short and long-term skilled nursing care and senior rehabilitation services. The patients enjoy nearby parks, Rivers Edge Golf Club and beaches, and a variety of on-site activities during their stay.
Can you leave shallots in the ground over winter?
Overwintering. Shallot bulbs can overwinter in the ground, as they go dormant for the winter season.Sep 5, 2022
Do shallots grow in the fall?
Learn how to plant shallots (in late fall or early spring) with our growing guide. Shallots are members of the Allium genus, just like onions, leeks, and garlic. The bulbs grow in a manner more similar to onions but look closer to garlic, growing in clusters. How do you grow shallots? Shallots are most commonly grown from cloves.
When should I plant shallots?
For best results, plant shallots in the fall about 4-6 weeks before your first expected frost. This gives them time to establish roots before winter dormancy. Shallots can be grown as far north as USDA zone 5. In zones 6-9, fall planting is ideal. Gardeners in zones 9-11 should opt for shorter day length varieties suited to their climate.
How to grow shallots?
If you want to know more about how to grow shallots, the crops can either be grown from sets, which can be planted in fall or spring, or from seed. They are very similar to onions in that regard and can also store for an impressively long time after you harvest shallots in the summer.
How far north can you plant shallots?
Shallots can be grown as far north as USDA zone 5. In zones 6-9, fall planting is ideal. Gardeners in zones 9-11 should opt for shorter day length varieties suited to their climate. Avoid planting too early, as shallot bulbs may sprout before winter if the ground hasn’t cooled sufficiently.
When to pick shallots?
In a similar vein to when to harvest onions, the time to pick is when the plant’s foliage starts to go yellow and fall down naturally. It is a quick and easy process to harvest shallots, simply use a garden fork to lift each clump of bulbs from the ground and carefully separate them at the base.
How do you eat shallots in the fall?
Pickle in vinegar for a tangy sandwich topping or charcuterie accompaniment. Stuff whole bulbs with cheese and bake until meltingly tender. Use in place of onions for a mellower flavor in soups, braises, and stews. With proper planting and care, shallots are an easy and rewarding fall crop.