Last Updated on September 18, 2026
How Many Shallots per Square Foot?
4 shallot sets per square foot, planted 6 inches apart in a 2 x 2 grid. That count is sets going in the ground, not bulbs coming out: each set grows into its own cluster, so a square with 4 sets can hand you well more than 4 shallots by harvest.
The spacing pattern
| Square foot method | 4 sets per square: a 2 x 2 grid, 6 inches apart, pointed end up, 1 inch deep |
|---|---|
| 4 x 4 bed (16 squares) | 64 shallot sets |
| 4 x 8 bed (32 squares) | 128 shallot sets |
| 3 x 6 bed (18 squares) | 72 shallot sets |
Planting the square
Utah State University Extension notes shallots do best in soil that is rich in organic matter, well drained, and moist, with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5, and that compost should go on at no more than about 1 inch per 100 square feet. Work that into the bed before setting out sets.
- Push each set into the soil pointed end up, root plate down, about 1 inch deep, at the 4 points of a 2 x 2 grid.
- Firm the soil around each set and water it in.
- Leave the squares undisturbed while the sets divide underground into clusters.
Sets multiply, they do not stay one bulb
A shallot set is a small bulb, not a seed, and it does not just size up the way a garlic clove does. Utah State University Extension explains that close bulb spacing tends to produce one shallot per set planted, while wider spacing lets the set split into a cluster, in their research noting clusters of 10 to 15 bulbs at the wider end of that range. At 6 inch, square foot spacing you are past the tightest crowding, so expect each set to become a small cluster of bulbs rather than a single shallot. That is why the count on this page is sets going in, not the final harvest.
Spacing versus bulb size
Spacing is a trade-off. Closer sets, in the 3 inch range, crowd the cluster and keep individual bulbs smaller. The wider end of the range Utah State lists, up to 6 inches between sets in rows 12 to 18 inches apart, gives each cluster more room to swell into bigger bulbs. Square foot spacing at 6 inches sits at that wider end, favoring size over sheer bulb count per set.
Fall versus spring planting
Oregon State University’s vegetable program notes that shallot bulbs can go in during either fall or spring. Fall planting skips the job of storing sets over winter but means the planting has to survive the cold months in the ground, and Utah State adds that hard winters can cut yields, so a fall planting benefits from a mulch covering. Spring planting avoids that risk and can go in any time the soil is workable, though Oregon State notes it tends to run a little later to maturity than a fall planting of the same variety. Either way, use the Plan My Garden frost dates and the OBG seed starting calendar to work out which planting fits your own timing.
Curing and storage
Utah State’s guidance is to lift the cluster once most of the tops have fallen over, gently separate it into individual bulbs, and let them cure in the garden or a warm, airy spot for 1 to 2 weeks until the skins turn papery and the bulbs and leaves are fully dry. Oregon State’s growers cure their harvest in sacks or bins under cover. Once cured, Utah State recommends storing shallots in mesh bags in a cool, dry spot, 32 to 40°F, where they will keep for months. The steps track closely with garlic, covered in more depth in Harvesting and Curing Garlic.
Common varieties
Utah State University Extension lists French Red as the most widely sold shallot variety, with Gray Griselle noted for the best flavor and Dutch Yellow for a stronger, more onion-like taste. Any of these grow the same way from sets at the spacing above, so the choice comes down to flavor and what a supplier has in stock.
Quick questions
Does one shallot set grow into one shallot?
Not usually. University research found tight spacing gives closer to one bulb per set, but at typical garden spacing a set divides into a cluster of several bulbs.
Should I plant shallot sets in fall or spring?
Either works. Fall planting skips winter storage of the sets but needs the planting to survive the cold, ideally under mulch; spring planting is simpler but matures a bit later. Check your own frost dates before choosing.
How do I know when to harvest shallots?
Lift the cluster once most of the tops have fallen over and the bulbs have colored up, then separate it into individual shallots for curing.
How should I store cured shallots?
In mesh bags or slatted trays with good airflow, in a cool spot around 32 to 40°F, once the skins are fully papery.
Let the planner place them
Plan My Garden is free to start: enter your zip code, draw your beds, pick everything else you want to grow, and it places each plant at square foot spacing and builds a planting schedule from your frost dates.
Related: Square Foot Gardening Chart · How Many Onions per Square Foot · Harvesting and Curing Garlic · How Many Garlic per Square Foot? · How to Plant Garlic in Raised Beds · Square Foot Garden Calculator · Seed Starting Calendar
