Growing Shallots in a Vegetable Garden

What is a Shallot?

A shallot is a member of the onion family that is often referred to as a “sweet onion”. When unpeeled, it looks like a large green onion with a white base that has a milder, sweeter, more onion-like flavor than a yellow onion. Shallots are available during the growing season in most supermarkets and can also be found at farmers’ markets. A single shallot bulb is composed of multiple cloves that form a cluster at the end of each stem. Each cluster has a papery skin that is typically removed before using the shallot in cooking. When you buy shallots in the supermarket or pick them from your garden, it’s important to make sure the bulbs aren’t soft or shrivelled a sign that they’ve been stored too long. You can also tell if they’re fresh by their aroma. Fresh shallots should have a strong, onion-like scent.

Start With the Right Seeds

The best time to start shallots indoors is in February or March. Place seeds in pots filled with soil that has been enriched with compost. Water the soil, place the pots in a warm, sunny location and keep them moist. The seeds should sprout in three to four weeks. When the seedlings have grown to about four inches in height, thin them to one plant per pot. Keep the soil moist, but don’t overwater. When the weather has warmed up and all danger of frost has passed, transplant the shallots to your vegetable garden. Plant the seedlings about eight inches apart in rows. Water them well and keep the soil around them moist but not soggy. When the tops of the plants have grown about six inches tall, add a layer of mulch around the bulbs to retain moisture and keep weeds out of the soil.

Planting and Care Tips

Like other members of the onion family, shallots need full sun, moist soil, rich in organic matter, and a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. The soil should also be well-drained. To increase the soil’s organic content, add a layer of compost or aged manure to the garden bed before planting. Keep the soil around the shallots moist but not soggy, especially when the plants have started to produce the bulb. Once the bulb begins to grow, it needs more water than the rest of the plant. Fertilize the shallot bed once a month with a balanced fertilizer. As the bulbs grow, provide support for the plants by staking them, trellising them, or placing a layer of mulch beneath the bulbs to keep them off the ground.

Harvest and Storage

As the bulb starts to develop beneath the soil, it’s time to harvest the shallot. The best way to determine when the shallot is ready to harvest is to feel the bulb. The bulb should feel firm to the touch, like a rising balloon. Before you harvest, make sure to cut off any flower heads that appear above the surface of the soil. Once you’ve harvested the bulbs, let them cure in a cool, dark place for a week or so. Then, store them in a cool, dry place. The bulbs will keep for several months.

Should You Grow Shallots in Your Vegetable Garden?

For most gardeners, growing shallots is not an “if” question but a “when” question. If you like to add flavor to your food with herbs and spices, growing shallots is a no-brainer. They add a delicious onion flavor to many dishes, including stir-fries, stews, and soups. The best time to plant shallots is in the fall, just as you’re harvesting your last crop. Choose a sunny location that has well-drained soil and add a bit of compost to the soil before planting. Shallots prefer a pH of 6.5-7.5 and a soil temperature of 55-75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Conclusion

Perhaps their milder flavor and softer texture are what make shallots such a great choice for the home gardener. Whatever the reason, this tasty bulb is easy to grow, requiring little maintenance and producing tasty harvest almost year-round. If you’re planning to add these delicious bulbs to your home garden, now is the time to order the seeds or plant starts. Once they get going, they’ll take off and before you know it, you’ll have more shallots than you know what to do with.