How to Grow Shallots

We received a question this week on Ask Gardenerd that we wanted to share:

“Hi Christy, I’m wondering when the best time to plant shallots is in
SoCal?  Also, do you have a good source for sets or is the farmer’s
market a good place to start? Thanks!”

Your timing is perfect!  Fall is the best time to plant shallots in Southern California.  They, like garlic, will overwinter and be harvested in springtime.  They require similar care to garlic, with some exceptions.  Here is a blurb from Peaceful Valley Farms, where you can order shallots for growing:

PLANTING SHALLOTS, GROWING SHALLOTS AND HARVESTING SHALLOTS
Preparing Soil For Shallots
Shallots are very tolerant and can be grown in acidic soil down to 5
pH, but prefer 6.0-6.8 pH. Plant in fertile, well-drained soil. The
looser the composition of the soil, the larger your shallots will grow.
Prepare your shallot bed by turning under or tilling in compost (be
sure to use compost that is fully aerobically broken down and contains
animal manures and plant residues, rather than cedar or redwood). Make
sure your soil has ample phosphorus. Gophers love shallots as much as
they like garlic; protect your beds with gopher wire or traps.

Planting Shallots & Growing Shallots
Shallots are planted from bulbs, rather than cloves like Garlic.
Separate multiple bulbs and plant each individual bulb, root end down.
Space shallot seeds 6″-8″ apart with 10″-12″ between rows. Plant just
deep enough so that the tip lies level with the soil surface. Unlike
garlic which forms a bulb from a clove, shallots will form a cluster of
5-12 bulbs around the original bulb. This cluster will spread out more
than a garlic bulb and therefore requires more space between plants.

Do
not use mulch as it may rot bulbs, which are not strong enough to push
through mulch. After planting shallots, water well or lightly in heavy
soils, and only water again when the soil is dry. Remember, shallots
love water and food, but they must have good drainage or the bulbs will
rot.

In the Spring, feed the shallots with either composted
manure or a well-balanced fertilizer before the bulbs begin to enlarge.
Keep the bulbs well watered and weeded; they grow best with at least 1″
of water per week. Remove any seed stalks that form to focus the
shallots’ energy into forming bulbs. Shallots should be Spring planted
in very cold areas.

Harvesting Shallots & Storage
Harvest the shallots when the tops are drying. Pull up the clusters and
cure in a warm but shady place with ventilation. Regardless of what you
read elsewhere, do not leave your shallots in the sun to cure, because
they might sunburn and rot. Store your shallots in mesh bags (like
onion sacks) in a cool dry area. They can be stored for up to 8 months
if kept at their optimum storage temperature of 35°-45°F.

As for finding them in nurseries, I would call ahead to places like Marina Garden Center and Armstrong Garden Center to see if they have any in stock.  Often you can start with shallots from the grocery store, but many alliums (and garlic and potatoes) have been sprayed to prevent sprouting.  Also, by ordering from a nursery, you are guaranteeing that your starter bulbs are disease-free.  Here is a direct link to Shallots at Peaceful Valley Farms:

Thanks for writing in!  I hope this helps get your fall garden underway.