When to plant Shallots in Tropical Australia

Tropical zone — applies to Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Broome, Mackay and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Subtropical · Arid.

Sow shallots direct from March to August, pushing sets or seed 30–50 mm deep into the dry-season bed so the bulbs form through cool, drier weather. Seed germinates in 10–14 days and the crop matures in 84–105 days, so a March–August start clears harvest before the wet returns. Space plants 15–20 cm apart in rows 25–30 cm apart in full sun. Across tropical gardens in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay the dry season is the only dependable window for this hardy allium, which resents the waterlogged, humid conditions of the November–April wet.

Sowing calendar — tropical zone

Green months are your sowing window: March to August.

Growing notes

Shallots form clumps of small bulbs from a single planting, and in the tropics they belong squarely in the dry season. Sowing from March means the bulbs swell and cure through drier, milder weather, well clear of the wet that would rot them in the ground.

Give them full sun, free-draining soil and steady but not heavy watering. The commonest tropical failure is bulb rot from wet feet: alliums hate saturated soil, and beds that pool water after storms will lose bulbs to soft rot. Raised beds or mounded rows, plus a break from watering as the tops start to yellow, keep the bulbs firm.

Keep them well weeded, as their upright leaves compete poorly with fast tropical weeds, and side-dress lightly rather than pushing lush growth that stores badly. Plant shallots near carrots, where the allium scent helps deter carrot fly, but keep them away from bush beans, since alliums inhibit bean growth and interfere with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria beans rely on. Harvest when the tops fall over and dry, then lift the clumps and cure them in a well-ventilated, rain-free spot for a couple of weeks before storing. Well-cured bulbs from a dry-season Townsville or Mackay bed will keep for months.

Shallots at a glance

Companion planting

Grows well with

Carrot: Allium scent deters carrot fly

Keep away from

Bean (Bush): Alliums inhibit bean growth

Bean (Bush): Alliums inhibit nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Common questions

when do I plant shallots in tropical Queensland?

Plant from March to August, through the dry season, so the 84–105 day crop matures and cures before the wet returns. Wet-season planting risks bulb rot in saturated soil.

why are my shallot bulbs rotting in the ground?

Alliums hate wet feet, and tropical rain or poorly drained beds cause soft rot. Grow them on raised or mounded beds, ease off watering as the tops yellow, and lift promptly once the leaves fall over.

can I grow shallots next to beans?

Best not to. Alliums like shallots inhibit bean growth and interfere with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria on bean roots. Pair shallots with carrots instead, where their scent helps deter carrot fly.

how do I cure shallots in humid Cairns?

Lift the clumps when the tops die down and dry them in a shaded, breezy, rain-free spot for a couple of weeks. Good airflow is essential in the humid tropics, so avoid closed sheds and spread the bulbs out.

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