When to plant shallots: types, timing and method

In a UK garden, most shallot sets are planted outdoors in early to mid-spring. Some varieties can go in during autumn or winter, but they need to suit that season and the bed must drain freely. The RHS shallot guide gives the practical method below.

Choose sets for a straightforward crop

Shallots can be raised from seed, young plants or sets. Sets are immature bulbs, the easiest route for most home growers: each one produces a cluster of new shallots and is quicker to grow than seed. Buy them for planting, check the variety and season on the label, and plant them soon after purchase. Choose firm, sound sets; soft or damaged bulbs are poor starting material.

Seed is useful if you want a particular variety or a different growing approach, but it needs more attention at the seedling stage. The RHS advises sowing seed outdoors in mid-spring once the soil is drier and beginning to warm, or starting it under cover in late winter. Young plants raised from seed are planted out in spring. Keep each set intact: it is one planting bulb, not a clove to divide before planting.

Use spring as the usual UK window

For sets, early to mid-spring is the standard RHS window. Autumn and winter planting is possible for some varieties that are less sensitive to cold; it is not a blanket instruction for every shallot. Check the supplier's label before buying for an early planting, especially if your garden is exposed or the soil stays wet. A sheltered, mild site may offer more options than a cold, waterlogged bed.

The French SEMAE guide gives October–December for grey shallots and February–April for Jersey types. These are French variety-specific reference windows, not UK dates to copy. For British gardens, use the RHS spring window unless the packet identifies a variety suitable for autumn or winter planting.

Prepare soil that will not stay waterlogged

Choose a warm, sunny position with fertile, free-draining soil. The RHS recommends adding well-rotted organic matter before planting to improve structure and moisture retention; avoid fresh manure. If the ground is heavy and prone to waterlogging, use a raised bed or container, or wait for better conditions. Sets left in saturated soil are vulnerable to rot.

Plant each set so the tip is just visible at the surface. Firm soil around it and water it in. The RHS method spaces sets 15–20 cm apart and rows 25–30 cm apart. The SEMAE French guide gives 15–20 cm between bulbs and plants them two-thirds into the soil. Keep the depth instructions distinct rather than combining them.

Keep the row clear and check the bulbs

Birds may pull newly planted sets from the ground. Check the row and replant any that have been displaced; temporary fleece or netting can protect them until rooted. Shallot leaves cast little shade, so weed regularly and work carefully to avoid damaging bulbs close to the surface.

Once established, shallots usually need water only during a prolonged dry spell in early summer, according to the RHS. Avoid watering after the bulbs have swollen, as this can reduce how well a spring-planted crop stores. Harvest when foliage yellows and falls over; variety, planting time and weather affect the timing. Lift clusters gently to avoid bruising the bulbs, then dry them fully before storage.

Record the variety, date and bed conditions so next season's choice follows what happened in your garden. For other jobs through the year, use the vegetable sowing and planting calendar or what to plant in October. The guide to planting garlic in autumn covers a related bulb crop with different planting choices.

References: RHS, Shallots; SEMAE, Réussir l'échalote au potager (in French).