Rainline Garden

When to plant shallots in Walla Walla, WA

Plant shallot bulbs in Walla Walla from Oct 1 – Nov 1. They root over winter and are ready to dig the next summer. You can also plant them as early in spring as the soil can be worked.

Easy Plant bulbs

Why these dates

Like garlic, shallots size up best after a winter in the ground, so in most of the Northwest they go in during fall, after the soil cools but before it freezes hard. In Walla Walla the first fall frost usually comes around October 31.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
6 to 8 inches apart
Planting depth
Tip just at the soil surface
Frost
Very hardy; grows through winter

Step by step

  1. Buy shallot bulbs sold for planting from a garden center or seed company.
  2. Loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  3. Plant them Oct 1 – Nov 1, 6 to 8 inches apart, with the tip just at the soil surface.
  4. Mulch lightly with straw for winter, pull weeds in spring and stop watering when the tops start to yellow.
  5. Harvest: Dig in summer when the tops yellow and fall over. Dry the clusters in a shady, airy spot for two weeks.

Varieties that do well here

  • French Gray (gourmet, very hardy)
  • Ambition
  • Dutch Yellow

Watch out for

Onion maggots in cool, wet soil. Plant onion-family crops in a different spot each year.

Planted like garlic in fall, or as early in spring as the soil can be worked. Each bulb multiplies into a cluster.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Walla Walla, WA?

Typically March 27. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 22. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Walla Walla Regional Airport.

When are shallots ready to harvest in Walla Walla?

Usually in early to midsummer, when the tops yellow and fall over. Dig in summer when the tops yellow and fall over. Dry the clusters in a shady, airy spot for two weeks.

Also plant in Walla Walla around the same time

Planting dates for shallots in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Walla Walla · Shallots in every city