Growing Shallots, also Eschalots

Allium cepa, aggregatum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  P P P P P P P P P    

(Best months for growing Shallots in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Plant small bulblets, with stem just showing above ground. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 15 - 20 cm apart
  • Harvest in 12-15 weeks. Keep a few for your next planting.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Lemon Balm, Borage, Carrots, Beets, Silverbeet, Lettuce, Amaranth
  • Avoid growing close to: Peas, Beans
  • "Tree Onions" (commons.wikimedia.org - Liez - CC BY 3.0)

Shallots are grown from small bulbs kept from the main plant. Once they are established, you can keep your supply going indefinitely by saving a few bulblets each year.

A type of small mild multiplying onion, popular in French cooking.

Tree onions or 'walking onions' produce bulbs at the top of the stem.

Shallots are not spring onions and are quite different to the green bunching 'Eschallots' (Allium fistulosum) which, just to confuse us, are also sometimes called 'shallots' in Eastern Australia.

They are more like garlic in their growth as they form a clump of bulbs at the base of the stem.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Shallots

Use in any recipe instead of onions.
Can be cooked whole, braised gently with other vegetables.
Sometimes pickled.

Your comments and tips

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11 Feb 23, Elaine (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Just wondering where I can get grey shallots in NZ South Island? I've read they are the best.
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26 Feb 23, Kevin (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Sometimes called French shallots try Trademe sometimes www.palmers.co.nz
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13 Feb 23, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Best to find someone who grows them which could be very difficult. I have researched about shallots so much 60-80 hrs. I have grown them for 40+years. I have the ones that are purple skin when harvested and then have a brown outer skin after maturing. I planted 50 three weeks ago and 100+ this morning. Asian ladies buy them to use in sauces. I keep bulbs from one year for the next year planting. I'm in Qld Australia. Try looking on the internet for seed selling sites.
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02 Jan 24, ET (New Zealand - temperate climate)
What's better to keep for planting the next season? I have had a great harvest this year from 10 bulbs planted in July. The harvested bulbs are varied in sizes. I want to save some for planting but I'm not sure to save the big or small bulbs due planting. I would appreciate advise. THANKYOU
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08 Jun 18, (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Buy in supermarket vegetable aisle
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30 May 18, Pam (New Zealand - temperate climate)
please can you tell me where I can purchase small round shallots seed in NZ
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12 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Shallots are generally grown from bulbs. What is sold in supermarkets is spring onions. A lot of difference. (Shallots are available in some NZ supermarkets - intended for cooking - Ed:)
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07 Feb 19, Terry (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Can I replant my new shallot bulbs straight away?
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19 Sep 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
True shallots grow as a clump of up to 12-20 bulbs and when developed are purple skinned. If you keep some of these from one year to the next, all you need to do is plant 2-3 bulbs together and space them about 8-9
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16 Mar 17, tony (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I bought some of those long trendy French shallots from the supermarket and put them in and let them go to seed. Now I have heaps of seed for new plants. Same with red and white onions.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 17 comments
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Have flourishing shallots I bought at a supermarket. Do I wait until their foliage dies before I pull them out or can I use them now, as I want to do? Love shallots.

- jenny V.

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