Shallot
Allium cepa var. aggregatum
Shallots are mild, sweet members of the onion family that grow in clusters from a single planted bulb. They store well and are prized in French and Asian cooking.
Photo: Colin · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water regularly while growing; stop watering as leaves yellow.
Soil
Loose, well-drained, fertile soil; pH 6.0–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
-10–30 °C · Low humidity
Feeding
Feed lightly with a balanced fertilizer a month after planting.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by offsets, seed
Remove flower stalks.
Shallots are safe for people but toxic to cats and dogs, like all onions.
Top Cultivation Tips
Plant sets with tips just showing.
Each set divides into 6–12 bulbs.
Cure in the sun for two weeks before storing.
Keep the bed weed-free.
Common problems
Downy mildew
A water-mould disease that causes yellow patches on top of leaves and grey-purple fuzz underneath, spreading fast in cool, wet weather.
How to treat it →PestOnion fly
A small fly whose white maggots eat the roots and bulbs of onions, leeks and related crops, causing yellowing, wilting and rotting plants.
How to treat it →DiseaseRust
A fungal disease that forms orange, brown or yellow powdery pustules, mainly on leaf undersides.
How to treat it →PestThrips
Tiny, slender insects that rasp leaf and flower surfaces, leaving silvery streaks, curled leaves and distorted flowers.
How to treat it →
