When to Plant Shallots in North Carolina

Hardiness Zones

• North Carolina climates range from U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5b to 8b, with the low winter extreme temperatures running from minus 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Shallots are frost hardy, growing successfully in USDA zones 2 through 9, so are well suited to grow in North Carolina.

Temperature

• Shallot bulbs will germinate at a temperature of between 45 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant the bulb sets before a hard freeze and while the ground can still be worked. Although shallots need the time in the cold ground for best growth, they can be sensitive to freezes. If temperatures drop into the freezing range, protect the bulbs from severe winter cold by applying a layer of straw mulch.

Planting Time

• "Shallots [should be] planted in the fall and rarely do well when planted in spring," according to North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. The extension service recommends planting no earlier than the first frost to avoid top growth damage during winter freeze. The first frost in the Tar Heel state comes as early as late September and as late as late December, depending on the region. Plant individual cloves about 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart. Barely cover the tops with soil. Apply mulch to maintain moisture levels and help with weed control. Water thoroughly once a week.

Crop Rotation

• Pest and disease control is another consideration in deciding when to plant shallots in any given growing area. Crop rotation with vegetables from different botanical families can improve soil fertility, clean the soil of soil-borne organisms that spread from one crop to the next and lower the risk of some insect pests and diseases. Shallots are members of the onion family and will benefit from rotating growing areas with members of the sunflower, goosefoot, mustard, gourd, pea, nightshade, carrot and grass families on at least a three-year rotation.