How to grow shallot
Allium cepa var. aggregatum · Amaryllidaceae · Vegetable
When to plant shallots: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 9 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 3 weeks before it; sow outdoors about 4 weeks before the last frost; plant in fall, about 2 weeks after the first frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 90°F, fastest near 70°F.
Cold winters (zone 5): sow Mar 28 – Apr 16, or sow Oct 9 – Oct 26 for a fall crop. Mild winters (zone 9): sow Dec 4 – Dec 21 for fall and winter harvests; the spring window (Jan 18 – Feb 6) closes before the summer heat. Skip the hottest months for shallots. See every zone.
Shallot is a cool-season vegetable in the Amaryllidaceae family, usually started indoors and set out as transplants. It wants full sun (six or more hours of direct light) and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 90–120 days. It handles frost well and a light freeze often improves the flavour.
Grower’s note: Grown from sets that each split into a cluster of small bulbs, or from seed like onions. Plant sets in early spring, or in fall where winters stay above about 0 F. Harvest when the tops fall over; cure and store like onions.
Sowing
Sow about 1″ deep, into soil between 40–90°F — germination is quickest near 70°F. Germination takes a week or two (7–14 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 9 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 6″ along the row with roughly 12″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 9 per square foot. Allow at least 10″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 8″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, shallot does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. A second sowing in late summer, timed to mature as the weather cools, is usually the better crop of the year — and light frost only sweetens it.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long shallots take to grow
From seed to first harvest takes roughly 19-23 weeks: about 6 weeks as a seedling indoors, then 90-120 days in the garden.
When to plant shallot
When to plant shallots by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Apr 12 – May 1 | Sep 19 – Oct 6 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Apr 7 – Apr 26 | Sep 29 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Mar 28 – Apr 16 | Oct 9 – Oct 26 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Mar 13 – Apr 1 | Oct 19 – Nov 5 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 3 – Mar 22 | Oct 29 – Nov 15 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Feb 15 – Mar 6 | Nov 9 – Nov 26 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Jan 18 – Feb 6 | Dec 4 – Dec 21 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | Dec 28 – Jan 16 | Dec 19 – Jan 5 |
Companions
Carrot, Beet, Lettuce, Cabbage
Bush Bean, Pole Bean, Pea
Common problems
Pests: onion maggot, onion thrips.
Diseases & disorders: downy mildew, white rot, botrytis neck rot.
Same family (Amaryllidaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant shallots?
Start seeds indoors about 9 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 3 weeks before it; sow outdoors about 4 weeks before the last frost; plant in fall, about 2 weeks after the first frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 90°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long do shallots take to grow?
About 90-120 days from transplanting to the first harvest, or roughly 19-23 weeks from sowing the seed indoors. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days.
How much sun do shallots need?
They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day.
What soil pH do shallots need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant shallots?
Space plants about 6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, or 9 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about 1 inch deep.
Can I grow shallots in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 8 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.