How Shallots Grow & Multiply

Planting Seeds

• Start shallot seeds indoors in starter pots with sterilized soil-less potting mix. Plant the seeds 1/8 inch deep, and keep them warm and moist until early spring. The Ozaukee County University of Wisconsin Extension recommends trimming plants to keep them under 5 inches in height until they are set out in the garden. Shallots prefer shallow planting in sandy or loamy soil. Transplant them when the last chance of frost has passed, and space them 6 to 8 inches apart.

Cultivation

• Shallots require light, but frequent, watering, metered out steadily to keep soil moist but not soggy. Their shallow roots also make weeding a matter of concern. You don't want to disturb the roots, so once the plants are established, a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch will help to prevent weeds and keep the soil moist. Four to six weeks after planting, fertilize with 1 pound of 10-10-10 per 50 square feet or, for smaller gardens, an all-purpose water soluble fertilizer. The shallots will produce bulbs to harvest by the end of the growing season, though actual days until maturity will depend on the variety and where you live.

Bulb Propagation

• After harvesting, put dry bulbs in a room with good ventilation at about 80 degrees F. Go through your harvest to set aside bulbs for planting. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs recommends selecting the biggest and best plants that are free of disease and pests. Plant the bulbs in late fall. Space them 6 to 8 inches apart again, with the tip of the point only 1/8 inch below the surface. Weed them through the winter, and water them steadily. Each bulb will produce a new bunch of shallots.

Multiplying

• Shallot bulbs are similar to garlic in that there are multiple sections. Each shallot bulb has two ends. One end has hairlike roots through which the plant will feed when planted in fertile ground. From the opposite end -- the pointed end -- green shoots grow when conditions are right. Each green shoot produces its own new bulb. Each shallot has enough shoots to grow up to 20 new bulbs in a cluster. Harvest the clusters, and replant a few new bulbs each fall.