When to Plant Shallots in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
That soil figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 6:55 this morning, not a model.
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Shallots guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Apr to Aug
- Days to harvest
- about 15 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 20 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–6.5
Shallots are a mild, easy bulb onion that grows as a clump, like garlic. You plant small bulblets in the cool months, keep a few from each harvest and replant them. They take about 3 to 4 months.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr S/D
- May S/T/D
- Jun S/T/D
- Jul S/T/D
- Aug T/D
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Subtropical zone right now, Shallots included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Shallots in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, well drained loam with low nitrogen. Avoid fresh manure (Garden Express).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Garden Express).
- Spacing
- 20cm apart
- Watering
- Keep the soil evenly moist, then stop watering once the bulbs mature (Seeds of Plenty).
- Good companions
- Lettuce, Carrot, Beetroot, Borage, Silverbeet
- Keep away from
- Peas, Beans
- Grow before it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
- Grow after it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Give the bed 3 turns before alliums go back in. Onion, garlic and leek like a lean bed and clean up after the heavy feeders.
Subtropical Growing Tips for Shallots
Key Challenges
- Warm wet spells
- Downy mildew
- Thrips
Pro Tips
- Plant in the cooler months
- Water early in the day
- Lift when tops fall over
Pests and problems for Shallots in Subtropical
Harvesting Shallots
When ready: Lift when the tops fall over (Garden Express).
How to harvest: Lift the clump, shake off the soil and cure the bulbs in full sun for about 2 weeks (Seed Collection).
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Shallots
When do you plant shallots in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Apr to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Jun
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to Jun
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Mar to Jun, Aug to Oct
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to Jun
Can you grow shallots all year round in Brisbane?
No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Apr to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Shallots in Brisbane?
Plant from April to August in the cooler, drier months. Plant bulblets with the stem just showing, 15 to 20 cm apart. Lift when the tops fall over.
What soil temperature do Shallots need?
Shallots germinate best when soil temperature is between 8°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Shallots are ready to harvest?
Lift when the tops fall over (Garden Express).
What grows well with Shallots?
Good companion plants for Shallots include: Lettuce, Carrot, Beetroot, Borage, Silverbeet.
Are shallots salt tolerant?
Only a little. Shallots are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.