Growing Shallots at the Allotment

Growing shallots in the UK is easy, especially for first-time gardeners - all you need is a sunny patch on your allotment. With their mild, sweet flavour, they’re a staple in many English and French dishes and are perfect for sauces, pies, and pickles where you want a gentler alternative to onions.

Shallots are part of the allium (onion) family and store well after harvest. They don’t take up much space, making them ideal for small plots or mixed beds.

So, if you are looking for a low-maintenance crop with plenty of flavours, read our guide to learn how to grow shallots in your allotment or kitchen garden. 

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How to Grow Shallots

When to Plant Shallots

Shallots can be grown from seed or sets, but most UK growers prefer using sets, i.e, immature bulbs that are quicker and easier to grow. Each set will form a cluster of new shallots as it matures.

When growing shallots, sets are generally planted from November through April, depending on the variety and local weather. Spring planting (March–April) is the most common for a summer harvest. Some autumn-planting varieties can go in as early as October.

You can also grow shallots from seed, but they take longer to germinate and often produce just a single bulb. Seed-grown shallots are typically cheaper but require more time and care.

Choosing Your Variety

Now that you’ve learned when to plant shallots, here are some popular UK varieties:

• Camelot – Reliable red shallot with good disease resistance
  
  
• Longor – French-style, elongated bulbs with sweet flavour
  
  
• Matador – Vigorous, bolt-resistant variety
  
  
• Meloine – High-yielding with pale pink skin
  
  
• Zebrune – Heritage French ‘banana’ shallot
  
  

Preparing the Soil

Shallots grow best in light, well-drained, alkaline soil in full sun. If your soil is acidic, add lime a few weeks before planting to raise the pH.

Choose a raised bed or a spot that doesn’t get waterlogged - shallots are prone to rot in overly wet conditions. Before planting, enrich the soil with well-rotted manure or compost and add a high-potassium fertiliser to support strong bulb development.

Planting & Growing Tips

• Plant sets with the tip just showing above the soil surface, spaced 15–20cm apart, in rows about 30cm apart.
  
  
• Protect newly planted sets from birds, who may pull them out before they establish.
  
  
• Snap off any flower heads that appear - this prevents bolting and keeps energy focused on bulb growth.
  
  
• Shallots need moderate watering, especially during dry spells. Avoid overwatering to prevent rot.
  
  
• Keep the bed weed-free, as weeds can crowd out these small bulbs.
  
  
• Shallots don’t grow well in bags, but a large, deep container in a sunny spot may produce a modest crop.
  
  

When growing shallots in the UK, know that small and space-efficient sets can be dotted around your garden beds. Check out our Companion Planting page for plants that grow well alongside shallots.

Growing Shallots in Summary