Are you looking to easily grow delicious shallots? Good news: even if you’re a beginner in gardening, producing these tasty little bulbs is truly not complicated. However, it is essential to follow a few key guidelines, especially when it comes to choosing the perfect time for planting them.
Each variety of shallot, depending on your soil and climate, has its ideal planting season. Here’s everything you need to know.
Why choose shallots rather than onions or échalions?
Less fussy than its relatives, the shallot offers surprisingly simple cultivation because it grows only from pre-formed bulbs known as caïeux. So you can forget about complicated sowing! Unlike onions, which germinate easily, or échalions that are often grown from seeds, shallots rarely flower and will produce only bulbs.
After about a month of planting, the caïeux sprout and develop a tuft of cylindrical leaves that reach 15 to 20 cm. These leaves will allow the initial bulb to multiply generously around it, forming 1 to 2 rows with up to 20 new shallots.
By summer, when the leaves start to yellow, it’s already time to harvest your bulbs, which will be as large as the original caïeux.
What is the ideal time to plant your shallots?
Don’t plant all your shallots in any season! Even though these little wonders are easy to grow, their schedule depends on the chosen varieties and your location.
Varieties to plant in spring
With the exception of one variety, the grey shallot, all other shallots can be planted between February and May. This springtime period is ideal, as the soil warms progressively, and the risk of frost significantly decreases.
This spring planting offers several advantages, including:
- A possible harvest as soon as 5 to 6 months after planting.
- A significant reduction in risks associated with excess water or cold, especially in clay soils or cooler climates.
Benefits of autumn planting
For the well-known grey shallot, autumn planting (October-November) is essential, as this fragile bulb doesn’t store well beyond December.
If you have a mild climate or particularly sandy soil, pink shallot varieties can also be planted in autumn, even as early as late August in some preferred regions.
This early planting allows the shallots to better establish roots, resulting in often superior yields at harvest time. However, be cautious of stagnant winter moisture, which remains a factor to monitor!
What technique to use for successfully planting your shallots?
For good growth, always plant your shallot sets in well-draining soil, preferably sandy, and in a clear spot that receives plenty of sunlight.
Is your soil heavy or clayey? Try incorporating river sand into your soil or slightly elevating your plants on small mounds to avoid excess water around the shallow roots. After heavy rainfall, consider lightly uncovering the bulbs to allow the soil to dry around the neck.
Moderately nourish your shallot plants: heavy applications or incorporations of fresh manure should be avoided. Ideally, use soil that was well-fertilized the previous year (for example, after a heavy feeder like tomatoes or squash). Take advantage of edges or slightly disadvantaged areas of your garden.
In very poor or sandy soil, just a small amount of well-decomposed compost or pelletized manure is sufficient a few months before planting the shallots. For watering, moderate and regular moisture is enough during the growth of the caïeux.
Space your caïeux approximately every 15 to 20 cm in 5 cm deep holes, ensuring the tip is slightly visible at the soil level. Finally, hoe or mulch around the plants: shallots dislike competition from weeds!
What associations to plant next to shallots?
Associating shallots with other plants, such as strawberries or carrots, is a great way to naturally repel certain pests.
These garden companions also thrive when planted alongside onions or garlic, which are close relatives of shallots.
Shallot or échalion, how to easily differentiate them?
Be cautious of frequent confusions! The échalion, such as the “chicken leg” variety or Jersey échalion, is grown from seeds and yields only one large bulb, while the shallot develops several small bulbs around a central caïeu.
More resistant to diseases and better at storing, these hybrid varieties called “seed shallots” are actually quite similar to onions.
For those who prefer to sow, sow seeds in February or March in rows directly where they will grow. You can then harvest your échalions at the end of summer after thinning.
Did this article help you better understand how to plant your shallots? Have you ever tried growing shallots in the fall, or do you prefer to wait until spring? Feel free to share your experiences and tips in the comments. Your feedback matters to our readers: tell us everything!
