When to Plant Shallots
Plant shallot sets 2 to 4 weeks before your last frost.
Shallots at a glance
- Plant
- 2 to 4 weeks before your last frost
- Time to harvest
- 90 to 110 days from planting
- Harvest lasts
- about 4 weeks
- Spacing
- 4 per square foot
- Frost
- Takes hard frosts
Growing shallots
Shallots grow like small onions and have a milder, sweeter taste. Plant sets in loose soil and full sun, with the tips just showing, and keep the bed weeded. Harvest when the tops yellow and fall over.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 30 – May 14 | Jul 29 – Sep 1 |
| Zone 3b | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jul 18 – Aug 21 |
| Zone 4a | Apr 14–28 | Jul 13 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 4b | Apr 10–24 | Jul 9 – Aug 12 |
| Zone 5a | Apr 5–19 | Jul 4 – Aug 7 |
| Zone 5b | Apr 3–17 | Jul 2 – Aug 5 |
| Zone 6a | Apr 1–15 | Jun 30 – Aug 3 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Jun 24 – Jul 28 |
| Zone 7a | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Jun 17 – Jul 21 |
| Zone 7b | Mar 8–22 | Jun 6 – Jul 10 |
| Zone 8a | Mar 1–15 | May 30 – Jul 3 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | May 18 – Jun 21 |
| Zone 9a | Feb 2–16 | May 3 – Jun 6 |
| Zone 9b | Jan 4–18 | Apr 4 – May 8 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 27 – Apr 30 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Frost is rare here, so grow shallots in the cooler months, from fall to early spring. | |
Questions about shallots
Can I plant shallots in fall?
Where winters are mild, yes, and fall-planted shallots often make bigger clusters. In cold areas, plant them in early spring.
How do I store shallots?
Cure them in a dry, airy spot for a couple of weeks until the skins are papery, then keep them cool and dry. Stored this way they last for months.
