root · direct sow
Shallot: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating shallot a few times a week needs about 5 plants in ~3 sq ft, worth about $4 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$2.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 2 | ~1 sq ft | ~4 | ~$2 |
| 2 people | 3 | ~2 sq ft | ~6 | ~$2 |
| 4 people | 5 | ~3 sq ft | ~9 | ~$4 |
| 6 people | 7 | ~4 sq ft | ~13 | ~$6 |
Spacing
6" in row · 12" between rows
Sow depth
1"
Days to harvest
100 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Mar 20 – Apr 24 | — |
| Zone 4 | Mar 15 – Apr 19 | Sep 4 – Oct 9 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 5 – Apr 9 | Sep 14 – Oct 19 |
| Zone 6 | Feb 23 – Mar 30 | Sep 24 – Oct 29 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 8 – Mar 15 | Oct 4 – Nov 8 |
| Zone 8 | Jan 28 – Mar 4 | Oct 25 – Nov 29 |
| Zone 9 | Dec 26 – Jan 30 | Nov 14 – Dec 19 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 6 – Jan 10 | Nov 24 – Dec 29 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Tops yellow and flop like onions; clusters have split into distinct bulbs. Lift and cure until necks are dry.
Yield
About 0.4 lbs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.4 lb).
Watch for
Onion thrips · Onion maggot · Downy mildew · White rot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with carrot, beet, tomato, lettuce. Keep away from pole bean, bush bean, snap pea.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
72 kcal · 3.2 g fiber · 8 mg vitamin C · 334 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Shallot keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Shallot planting questions
How many shallot plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 2 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 5 plants, which takes around 3 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does shallot need?+
Space plants 6" apart in the row with 12" between rows. Sow 1" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant shallot?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing shallot worth it?+
At about $2.00/lb retail and ~0.4 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $4 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.