🧅 Shallot
Allium cepa var. aggregatum
vegetables
bulb vegetable (allium)
Amaryllidaceae
☀️ Sun
Full sun (6, 8 hours)
💧 Water
Medium; 1 inch per week; reduce near harvest
🗺️ Zones
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
🧪 Soil pH
6.0, 7.0
🪴 Soil Type
Well-drained, moderately fertile loam; lighter soils produce better bulbs
🚿 Drainage
Good drainage required; shallots rot in wet soil
📏 Spacing
Bulbs 6, 8 inches apart; rows 12, 18 inches; each planted bulb multiplies into a cluster of 4, 12 shallots
📐 Height
12-18 in
⏱️ Maturity
90-120 days (from sets/bulbs); 100-150 days from seed
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Bulbs (clustered, milder than onion)
🍽️ Green tops
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (11)
Aromatic herb that improves health of neighboring plants
Different root depths; shallots repel beet pests
Allium carrot rust fly repellent effect; mutual pest protection
Improves flavor; attracts beneficial insects
Quick intercrop; shallots repel aphids
Universal garden companion; deters pests and attracts beneficials
Trap crop and ground cover; attracts pollinators IMPORTANT management caveat: without active management, nasturtiums can become a SOURCE of aphids that migrate to nearby crops. Either remove aphid-infested nasturtium plants promptly, or treat the trap crop itself to eliminate the aphid colony before it spreads. Strategic placement within 4-5 feet of protected crops is key.
Repels slugs and many strawberry pests
⚠️ Keep Apart (7)
💊 Medicinal Uses
Medicinal Properties
- Contains allicin and quercetin , antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
- Good source of vitamin A, B6, manganese, and folate
- Traditional use for digestive health and respiratory ailments
📝 Growing Notes
Shallots are gourmet alliums , milder, sweeter, and more delicate than onions. They multiply like garlic , one bulb planted produces a cluster. Best planted in fall (like garlic) or early spring. Two types: French (reddish, more common) and Dutch (larger, yellow). Store like onions in cool, dark, dry place. Shallots are perennial , can leave some in ground to multiply year after year.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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