Zone 10 · Alliums Growing Guide

When to Plant Shallot
in Zone 10

The cook's allium — complex, sweet flavour superior to onions for most dishes. Plant sets in fall or early spring. Each bulb multiplies into a cluster of 6–8 shallots. Easier than onions, stores brilliantly.

Plant outdoors
Oct 15 – Jan 15
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Jan 15
Days to harvest
90–120 days
Difficulty
Easy
Late season — Zone 10
Harvest window: Feb – Apr

Planting Calendar

In Zone 10, Shallot should be planted outdoors Oct 15 – Jan 15, after the average last frost date of approximately Jan 15.

Cool season planting only. Challenging without sufficient cold. Pre-chill sets in fridge 4 weeks if needed.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Moderate
Spacing
6–8 inches
Soil
Loose, well-draining, fertile
Days to maturity
90–120 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
plant tip · Zone 10

Cool season planting only. Challenging without sufficient cold. Pre-chill sets in fridge 4 weeks if needed.

Feeding Schedule

How often
twice a season
Feed type
balanced
Key timing
at planting and mid-season

Light feeder similar to onions. Feed at planting and once more mid-season. Stop feeding as bulbs swell.

Companion Planting for Shallot

What you plant next to shallot makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Carrots
  • Brassicas
  • Tomatoes
  • Beets
Keep away from
  • Beans
  • Peas
  • Asparagus

These guides get better when growers like you contribute. If something’s wrong or you’ve learned something worth sharing, we’d love to hear it.

What needs correcting?

What should it say?

Your zone (optional)

Thanks — we'll review this and update the guide if needed.

Your growing tip for Shallot

Your name (optional)

Your zone (optional)

Tips are reviewed before publishing. Accepted tips earn you a Founding Grower badge when the plant app launches.

Thanks for contributing! We'll review your tip and be in touch before launch.

Common questions

In Zone 10, shallot is a fall-planted crop. Plant outdoors Oct 15 – Jan 15 once temperatures cool in autumn. It overwinters and is ready to harvest around Feb – Apr. No last frost consideration — plant before the ground freezes.
Zone 10 has an average last spring frost of approximately Jan 15 and a first fall frost around Dec 31. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for shallot include Carrots, Brassicas, Tomatoes, Beets. Avoid planting near Beans, Peas, Asparagus, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Shallot typically takes 90–120 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 10. Expected harvest window: Feb – Apr.

Free app · iOS February 2028

Track your Shallot in plant

Get a live traffic light for every crop in your garden — zone-aware planting calendar, real-time weather alerts, and a community of growers near you.

Be first to back on Kickstarter and lock in the founding price.

Crop Guides