Shallots: Spacing, Yield & Planting Dates
Plant count & yield calculator
Pre-filled for this crop — adjust bed size or pick a different vegetable.
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Seed starting dates
Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule. For Shallots with this frost date : start indoors ~Feb 18, transplant ~Apr 1 .
Pick a last frost date for the schedule.
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About shallots
Shallots offer a delicate, complex flavor between onion and garlic, commanding premium prices at market and multiplying readily from single sets into clusters.
Spacing & yield
Shallots wants 4×12 inches and about 0.25 lb per plant at ~100 days to maturity.
Growing tips
- Plant sets or transplants 2 weeks before last frost — shallots tolerate cool soil.
- Each set multiplies into a cluster of 4-8 bulbs; give adequate spacing for development.
- Stop watering when tops begin to yellow to let bulbs cure in the ground.
- Store-bought shallots can be planted, but disease-free seed stock produces better results.
Common mistakes
- Planting too deep — set bulbs just at soil surface with tips barely exposed.
- Harvesting before tops fully die back, shortening storage life.
- Crowding sets closer than 4 inches, restricting cluster development.
Harvest & storage
Lift clusters when most foliage has yellowed and dried, about 100 days from planting.
Cure 2 weeks in a dry, airy location; store in mesh bags at 35-50 F for 6-8 months.
Companion planting
Good neighbors for shallots: beets, carrots, strawberries, lettuce. Avoid planting beside: beans, peas, asparagus.
Planting calendar
Start indoors about 8 weeks before last frost, then transplant 2 weeks before frost. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).
Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.
Frequently asked questions
- How far apart should shallots be planted?
- Space 4 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart; each set will multiply into a cluster needing that room.
- How much does one shallot plant produce?
- Each planting yields about 0.25 lb total across its cluster of 4-8 small bulbs.
- How long do shallots take to grow?
- Shallots need about 100 days from planting to harvest maturity.