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Holly's Homestead — Bulb & Allium

Shallot

Allium cepa var. aggregatum · Onion family
DIFFICULTY Easy
TYPE Perennial bulb, grown as annual from divisions
MATURITY 90–120 days
Sun
Full sun
Water
Regular, taper before harvest
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
Spacing
15–20cm
Depth
clove tip just below surface

01One bulb becomes a cluster

Plant a single shallot bulb and it divides into a cluster of 4–8 new bulbs by harvest — much like garlic, but staying together as a tighter clump.

02Planting

Method
Plant individual bulbs point-up, tip just below the surface.
Soil
Loose, well-drained.
Timing
Plant in autumn to early winter in mild zones.

03Growing care

  • Keep beds weed-free while bulbs establish.
  • Water regularly, then stop 2–3 weeks before harvest.
  • Feed lightly early in the season only.
  • Watch for the cluster pushing bulbs above the soil surface as they swell.

04Problems

  • White rot — soil-borne; rotate beds for years if it appears.
  • Onion thrips — silvery streaking; hose off or encourage predators.
  • Bolting — cold snap after planting; plant at the right time.
  • Rot in wet soil — ensure sharp drainage.

05Harvest & storage

Signs
Tops yellow and fall over.
Method
Lift the whole cluster with a fork.
Curing
Cure 2–3 weeks in a warm, airy spot.
Storage
Cool, dark, ventilated. Keeps several months; save some bulbs to replant next season.

06Companions & rotation

Plant nearby
CarrotBeetrootLettuce
Avoid nearby
BeansPeas
Rotation note
Avoid replanting alliums in the same bed for 3–4 years.