How to Plant Shallot Bulbs

Shallots are easy to grow in your home garden. They keep quite a while after harvest and add a unique flavor to your gourmet cooking. Though most commonly planted in the fall, shallots can also do well when planted in early spring. Each shallot bulb planted will yield between 5 and 8 shallots when harvested. Save part of your crop for planting again next season.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• seed-quality shallot bulbs (see resources for online seed companies)
• a prepared garden bed

1. Aerate the soil in a prepared garden bed by turning the bed over with a shovel or rotor tilling it.

2. 

   Plant shallot bulbs 4 to 6 inches apart and deep enough that the soil just covers the top of the bulbs. Be sure to plant the bulbs with the pointy tip up and the "rooty" base side down.

3. Water in the shallots. If planting in the fall, you do not need to water again until needed in the spring. If planting in early spring, water to keep moist, but not soggy.

Tips & Warnings

• Two different types of shallots are available for planting: small French shallots and larger Jersey shallots. Jersey shallots are the kind most commonly available in supermarkets.

Resources

• Pinetree Garden Seeds
• Johnny's Seeds

[pintora]

on 4/22/2009 I would like to know if a field of shallots has a poignant smell