How to Grow

How to Grow Shallots in the UK

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Shallot (Allium cepa Aggregatum Group)

A bowl of freshly harvested pink-brown shallots with dried necks. Photo: Kolforn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

11 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Sow
Mid January to late March
Plant out
Mid February to mid April
Ready in
90–120 days
Site
soil pH 6–7
Biggest risk
Allium white rot

In the UK, shallots are sown mid January to late March, planted out mid February to mid April, and are ready to harvest 90–120 days after sowing.

Shallots (Allium cepa Aggregatum Group) — Hardy biennial grown as an annual.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.

Companion Planting

avoid shared disease

Allium cepa

Both crops are documented hosts of Allium white rot and Onion downy mildew. These pathogens persist in soil for many years -- RHS gives up to 20 years for club root resting spores, at least 15 years for allium white rot sclerotia, and advises a five-year gap before replanting onions or shallots…

Leek
avoid shared disease

Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum

Both crops are documented hosts of Allium white rot. These pathogens persist in soil for many years -- RHS gives up to 20 years for club root resting spores, at least 15 years for allium white rot sclerotia, and advises a five-year gap before replanting onions or shallots after downy mildew -- so…

avoid shared disease

Allium sativum

Both crops are documented hosts of Allium white rot and Onion downy mildew. These pathogens persist in soil for many years -- RHS gives up to 20 years for club root resting spores, at least 15 years for allium white rot sclerotia, and advises a five-year gap before replanting onions or shallots…

Spring onion
avoid shared disease

Allium fistulosum

Both crops are documented hosts of Onion downy mildew. These pathogens persist in soil for many years -- RHS gives up to 20 years for club root resting spores, at least 15 years for allium white rot sclerotia, and advises a five-year gap before replanting onions or shallots after downy mildew --…

Quick Facts

Factor Value
Soil pH 6 - 7
Optimal growing temp 20-25C
Minimum survivable temp -5C
Time to harvest 90-120 days
Drainage RHS: "fertile, well-drained soil" in a sunny site; avoid "damp soil" and "heavy soil prone to waterlogging".
Lifecycle Hardy biennial grown as an annual. The cluster of bulbs is harvested in the first season; plants would flower and set seed only in a second year after cold exposure. Shallots tolerate frost, and some varieties are planted in autumn or winter to overwinter in UK gardens.
Edible parts bulbs

At a Glance

Allium cepa Aggregatum… Shallot Allium white rot Leek rust Onion downy mildew Onion neck rot Leek moth Onion fly Allium leaf miner DISEASES PESTS

Regional Planting Calendar

Region Sow Plant out
Southern England mid January to late March mid February to mid April
Midlands derived late January to late March early March to mid April
Northern England derived early February to early April mid March to late April
Scotland derived mid February to mid April late March to late April

Rows marked derived are interpolated between regions our sources do state, because no source we consulted gives a figure for that region specifically. They are deliberately wider to reflect that uncertainty.

Southern England - detail & sources

Plant shallot sets from early to mid-spring (RHS); in mild southern gardens the earliest can go in from late winter, and some varieties are planted in autumn (Sept-Oct) to overwinter. Seed can be started indoors from mid-winter or sown outdoors in mid-spring. Southern England has the UK's earliest soil-warming and last frosts (Met Office), so the earliest starts apply here.

Midlands - detail & sources

DERIVED from the RHS early-to-mid-spring planting window, shifted about a week later than southern England because the Midlands warm and pass the last frost slightly later (Met Office south-to-north gradient). Autumn overwintering of hardy varieties is possible on free-draining soil.

Northern England - detail & sources

DERIVED: about two weeks later than southern England for the earliest set-planting and outdoor sowing, reflecting the Met Office south-to-north warming gradient. Start seed under cover to gain time; autumn planting is riskier on cold, wet ground.

Scotland - detail & sources

DERIVED: the latest UK start - plant sets and sow from about April, as Scotland is slowest to warm and its last frosts are latest (Met Office). Spring planting is safest here; avoid autumn planting on heavy, waterlogged soil where sets may rot.

Soil & Growing Conditions

Shallot plants growing in the ground, with the reddish set visible at the base — "Shallot plant (Allium cepa var. aggregatum)" by Victor M. Vicente Selvas is licensed under Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Shallot plant (Allium cepa var. aggregatum)” by Victor M. Vicente Selvas is licensed under Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Water: RHS: shallots "don't generally need watering except in prolonged dry spells in early summer"; "Avoid watering once the bulbs have swollen in mid-summer".

Soil pH range

6 7

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Stage BBCH Notes
Planting & Establishment 0 Shallots are usually grown from heat-treated sets. PLANTING DEPTH & SPACING: push each set into soft, firmed soil so the tip is just showing at the surface, spacing them 15-20cm (6-8in) apart in rows 25-30cm (10-12in) apart (RHS). From seed, sow in drills 1.5cm (half inch) deep with rows about 25cm (10in) apart, thinning seedlings to 10cm (4in). TIMING: plant sets from early to mid-spring; some varieties can be planted in autumn or even winter to overwinter, but avoid autumn/winter planting on heavy, waterlogged soil where the bulbs may rot. Choose an open, sunny site on fertile, free-draining ground. Birds often tug newly planted sets out by the withered tops, so check and re-firm any that lift.
Leaf Growth & Clump Formation 3 Each set multiplies, sending up a clump of slender leaves as it begins to divide into a cluster of bulbs. Keep the bed regularly weeded - shallot foliage casts little shade and competes poorly with weeds - taking care not to disturb the shallow roots. Water only in prolonged dry spells in early summer (and container plants more often); established plants in the ground rarely need it. If any flower stems appear, pull or cut them out at once so the plant puts its energy into forming bulbs rather than seed.
Bulb Development (Bulbing) 7 Through early to mid-summer the clump swells into a cluster of new bulbs. Ease off watering as the bulbs enlarge and STOP watering once the bulbs have swollen in mid-summer, so the skins firm and the shallots store well. Keep weeding lightly and remove any late flower stems. No feeding is usually needed if the soil was enriched before planting.
Ripening, Harvest & Curing 8 The crop is ready in mid- to late summer, once the leaves flop over and start to die back. On a dry day, ease each cluster up with a hand fork and gently separate the bulbs, taking care not to bruise them. Dry (cure) the bulbs for about two weeks on wire racks in the sun or in a warm, well-ventilated shed until the skins are papery and the necks fully dry. Store only perfect, undamaged bulbs in net bags or trays in a single layer somewhere light, cool, dry and airy; well-cured shallots keep for at least six to eight months. Save a few of the best bulbs to replant next season.

Harvest & Storage

Just-lifted shallots with soil and roots still attached — "Fresh from the dirt" by terri_bateman is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Fresh from the dirt” by terri_bateman is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: RHS: lift shallots when the "foliage turns yellow and flops over". OMAFRA distinguishes green shallots, harvested at 30 to 60 days, from mature bulbs at 90 to 120 days.

Storage

RHS: "Lay them out in a single layer on wire racks or slatted trays", then "place the bulbs in net bags or trays in a single layer"; they keep "at least six to eight months". OMAFRA: "Store shallots at temperatures of 0–2°C and 60%–70% relative humidity"; with good air flow and humidity control "shallots should store for 8–10 months".

Diseases

Allium white rot
severe

Stromatinia cepivora (syn. Sclerotium cepivorum)

Covered by the RHS phrase "and other alliums"; shallot is Allium cepa Aggregatum Group.

Leek rust
cosmetic_to_moderate

Puccinia porri (syn. Puccinia allii)

Covered by "and other Allium species".

Onion downy mildew
moderate_to_severe

Peronospora destructor

RHS names shallots explicitly among affected hosts.

Onion neck rot
severe_in_storage

Botrytis allii

RHS: affects "Onions and shallots (occasionally garlic)".

Pests

Leek moth
moderate

Acrolepiopsis assectella

RHS: affects "Leek, onion, shallot, garlic".

Onion fly
high_at_seedling_stage

Delia antiqua

RHS onion fly page: affects "Onion, shallots, and leeks".

Allium leaf miner
high

Phytomyza gymnostoma

RHS: affects "Leeks, onion, chives, shallot and garlic".

References

  1. Tier 1. Primary UK source: sets planted tip-just-showing, 15-20cm apart in rows 25-30cm; seed 1.5cm deep in rows 25cm thinned to 10cm; early-to-mid-spring (some autumn/winter) planting; weeding, watering (stop once bulbs swollen), flower-stem removal; harvest when leaves flop; curing ~2 weeks; net-bag storage 6-8 months.

  2. Tier 1. Extension corroboration: shallots are multiplier alliums grown from sets that divide into clusters; full sun, well-drained soil; lift when tops die down and cure before storage.

  3. Tier 1. Host-specific: serious soil-borne disease of onions, shallots, garlic and leeks; sclerotia survive 15+ years; no chemical control for gardeners.

  4. Tier 1. Host-specific storage disease that can cause severe losses of onion and shallot bulbs; symptoms usually appear only after weeks in store.

  5. Tier 1. Host-specific foliar disease (Peronospora destructor) favoured by cool, wet, humid weather.

  6. Tier 1. Rust of alliums including shallots; usually mainly cosmetic but heavy attacks reduce vigour.

  7. Tier 1. Host-specific pest: larvae mine leaves; secondary rots make the crop inedible; widespread across England since 2002.

  8. Tier 1. Host-specific pest: maggots damage roots and bulbs; seedlings can be killed; most damaging June-July.

  9. Tier 1. Host-specific pest of alliums: caterpillars mine leaves and bulbs; mainly southern/eastern England and spreading.

  10. Tier 1. UK climate context for the south-to-north spring gradient used to derive regional planting windows.

  11. Tier 1. International agronomic ranges (temperature, pH) for the shallot (Aggregatum Group).

11 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant shallots out in the UK?

In southern England, from mid February. In northern England and Scotland, wait until mid March. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to plant out only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow shallots?

Sow mid January to late March.

How long do shallots take to grow?

Typically 90–120 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.

What soil pH do shallots need?

A pH of about 6–7. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect shallots?

Our data links 4 diseases and 3 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

UK vegetable growing guides · Checked against RHS & Met Office guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real UK growing conditions, and reviewed against Royal Horticultural Society growing advice and Met Office climate data before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

Last verified 2026-08-06

Sowing and harvest timings for shallots sit alongside every other crop in the UK vegetable planting calendar. For the wider job list in its main February window, see what to plant in February in the UK.

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