Frequently seen in supermarkets alongside garlic and onions, shallots are best friends with cooks around the world as they give distinct flavors as ingredients to dishes. A member of the allium family of plants, shallots are closely related to onions, garlic, and chivies. Although as an ingredient, it lacks the sharpness of onion and the aroma of garlic. You can say that it somehow brings the best of both worlds as it offers an intriguing depth to a dish without overpowering it. They have been used in different cuisines worldwide ever since the Biblical times. The 18th century English called them scallions, while Romans named them ascaloniae. Lucky for you, you do not have to go to fancy places to experience the magic that shallots bring. Any home gardener can grow this in their backyard easily. Interested? Read on to find out how to plant shallots along with other tips.
Sowing Outdoors
Directly plant seeds in your garden two to four weeks before the last frost date in your area. Choose a location that receives 6-8 hours of sunlight daily and that has loose, well-draining soil. After that, mix in well-rotted manure or compost with the soil.
Dig holes that are about ½ inch deep and put two seeds inside for each hole. Put a 6-8 inches space between the holes, in rows 12 inches apart.
Maintain moisture in the soil by watering, but make sure they do not become waterlogged. Once they have germinated, you can cut back the watering to one inch per week.
When two to three inches tall seedlings appear, thin them into one plant every six to eight inches.
Growing Shallots Indoors
Use seed trays and fill it with good quality potting soil. Growing shallots indoors should be done eight to ten weeks before your last average frost date.
Make one ½ inch hole for each cell and plant two seeds inside, then cover it back with soil. Spray it with water and then place it in a sunny spot in your home. Water the seeds regularly to keep them moist until germination, which will happen after around 10-14 days.
When the seeds have germinated, place them in an area that receives direct sunlight, for about 6-8 hours each day. This is ideal for the shallots to grow healthy.
When seedlings are two to three inches tall, thin them so that only one will be growing in each cell.
When each plant is about five to six inches tall with at least three true leaves, you can transplant them out into the garden at this point. To transplant, you must also choose an area in the garden that receives 6-8 hours of sunlight per day and where the soil is loose and well-draining.
Dig a hole with the same size as the seed cell where the plant first grew in and set the seed inside. Put the plants six to eight inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Cover back with soil and water them well. Cut back watering to one inch per week this time.
Growing Shallots in Pots
To start with this method, choose a pot that is at least 8 inches deep and 8 inches wide with drainage holes at the bottom. Shallots thrive in a sunny spot. Being planted in a pot placed in an area that receives 6-8 hours of full sunlight each daily is ideal for shallots’ optimum growth. If you have used a pot that is wide enough, space the rows 10 inches apart.
When growing shallots in pots, always remember to water the soil with a depth of 1 inch whenever it gets dry. Pour water slowly over the plant until you notice trickles of water coming out of the drainage holes, and then stop from there. Shallots only need 1 inch of water per week, but this will increase during hot and dry conditions.
Growing Shallots from the Grocery Store
The last method on how to plant shallots, but definitely not the least. Yes, you can plant shallots you have bought from the grocery store. Just make sure you are buying the legit ones. Look for heavy shallots with dry and firm skin and you’re good to go. Here’s how you can start growing shallots from the grocery store:
Once you have your shallots with you, pull apart its clusters to reveal individual bulbs. Sometimes, other stores or vendors sell individual shallots. In that case, you can ignore this step.
Put 3 inches of compost into the soil and dig an eight-inch hole. Plant the shallots 2 inches deep with the pointed end up, and 6 inches apart.
Water the soil in order to maintain moisture but be sure not to overwater it. Pull weeds as shallots do not thrive in a weedy garden.
Companions for Planting with Shallots
- German Chamomile – grow these to optimize shallot’s growth and enhance their flavor.
- Carrots – shallots help repel the carrot fly.
- Tomatoes – shallots help drive away and protect tomatoes from red spiders
- Strawberry – members of the allium family protect strawberries from pests.
- Cabbage – cabbage relatives grow well with onions
Petition to call shallots the allium of all trades. Who’s with me? Shallots are so flexible that they can literally be grown any way convenient to you. Not only that, they extend their flexibility as a supportive ingredient in many dishes. Pro tip: once you have familiarized yourself with how to plant shallots, be sure to make the most out of it. Whether diced or minced, you can use them as seasoning for dishes. Shallots are high in antioxidants and help promote weight maintenance.They also help you improve your blood sugar levels and bone health. Their taste hits differently and they’re good for the body, even Chef Gordon Ramsay featured them in a knife skills lesson. How awesome is it to have fresh shallots to pick from your garden whenever you want to make your recipes special? Grow shallots now and grab a taste of fancy minus the money.
