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Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
Planting shallots should be simple: tuck a bulb in the ground, wait a few months, and pull up a cluster of gourmet flavor. The real frustration hits before you even plant — when the package shows up soft, moldy, or half-rotted. This guide sorts through the best shallot bulbs for planting so you start with firm, healthy sets that actually grow.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
The critical detail is bulb condition on arrival, since rot spreads fast and ruins a whole bed. Find the shallot bulbs for planting that arrive firm, sprout reliably, and give you a genuine harvest.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Shallot Bulbs For Planting
Shallot sets are simply small bulbs grown last season and sold for replanting. The difference between a great pack and a dud depends on three things you can judge before the bulbs even go in the ground.
Firmness and condition beat everything
A firm, dry, plump bulb is your best shot at a harvest; a soft, wet, or squishy one is a risk. Rot and mold spread between bulbs in the same bag, so one bad spot can take down the whole planting. Skim the review language for words like “firm” and “no mold” to find packs with a good track record.
Count versus size is a real trade-off
Packs advertise a bulb count, but small bulbs often mean more per bag. Bigger sets produce stronger plants and bigger harvests, while a pile of tiny ones gives you more starts but weaker results. Decide what you value: quantity of plants or quality of each one.
Know your planting window
Shallots grow in cooler weather, so most gardeners plant in early spring or fall. If you miss the window, the bulbs may sprout slowly or not at all. Check the pack’s expected planting period against your local frost dates before you order.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Count | Weight | Growing Traits | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monique French Shallot Sets★ Best Overall | Reliable home harvests | 20 Count | — | Full Sun, Partial Shade; Sandy Soil | Amazon |
| Nero Shallot SetsBest Value | Raised bed planting | 4 Count | 4 ounces | Full Sun, Partial Shade; Loam Soil | Amazon |
| RED Shallot Set (1 lb Bag) | Big bulb volume | — | 16 ounces | Heirloom, GMO Free | Amazon |
| Easy to Grow Shallots Starters 6 Pack | Cold climate zones | 6 | — | Full Sun; Zones 4-9 | Amazon |
| Shallots, the Gourmet Onion (12 oz) | Chef-style flavor | — | 12 ounces | Grown in the USA | Amazon |
| Country Creek Fresh Shallots (1 lb) | Large restaurant-size bulbs | — | 1 pound | Large to Medium Size | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Monique French Shallot Sets (20+ Count)
Our pick — over 4.5★ from 200+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The 20-count pack that wins on germination — firm, mold-free bulbs that sprout reliably.
This pack’s quality is its winning card, and buyers confirm it. Reviewers report 100% germination with “no mold. firm bulbs,” and the plants come up strong and healthy as a result. For a home gardener, that means you plant once and actually get a crop, not a patch of empty soil.
The count flexes too: the 20-count pack easily beats the 6-pack starter option above in raw number of bulbs, giving you 4x the planting starts. Some bulbs run small — that’s the one honest trade-off — but the smaller size is why some buyers received nearly 25 bulbs instead of 20. Sandy soil, moderate watering, and full sun or partial shade are all it asks for, with harvest landing in late summer or early fall.
The mild, sweet flavor is the payoff in the kitchen, and buyers report the bulbs arrive in firm, healthy condition ready for immediate planting. One thing to know: some sets come with very small bulbs, so if you want uniform large starts, pick through your options. Still, for the germination rate and the sheer number of healthy plants, this is the pack most home gardeners should start with.
What Owners Love
- High germination rate with strong, healthy shoots
- Firm bulbs with no reported mold or rot
- Generous 20-count pack that often over-delivers
What to Know
- Some bulbs arrive on the small side
- Prefers sandy soil for best results
Reach for it if: you want the most reliable germination and a solid harvest from a single 20-count pack.
Think twice if: you demand uniformly large starter bulbs — sizes here vary noticeably.
2. Nero Shallot Sets (20+ Count)
Compact 4-ounce sets that arrive looking exceptional — a fast, convenient start for raised beds.
Convenience is the story here. The bulbs arrive quickly, packaged well, with buyers describing them as “packaged well” and looking “exceptional.” For a raised garden bed, this is a grab-and-go option that skips the expensive shipping of specialty sellers and still delivers a quality start.
Quality is the aspect owners praise most, with appearance close behind. The trade-off appears fast when you look at the numbers: this 4-count pack carries only 4 ounces of weight versus the 16 ounces in the RED Shallot Set — a 4.0x gap you feel the moment you lift the bag. Bulb size draws negative feedback, and germination runs mixed, with buyers noting “some of the seeds were very small” and calling them slow growers.
If you plant these in spring and give them time, the results come at harvest. The real appeal is the value: a quality set at an entry-level footprint for gardeners who want a tidy, manageable start without a mountain of bulbs to process. Just go in knowing the count is modest and the bulbs lean small.
Where It Shines
- Exceptional appearance on arrival, well packaged
- Quality praised across the board
- Fast shipping for immediate planting
Where It Falls Short
- Only a 4-count pack — feels light next to 20-count rivals
- Some seeds arrive very small with slow growth
Grab it if: you want the best value for a compact, well-packaged set for a raised bed.
Look elsewhere if: you need a large quantity of bulbs or want fast, vigorous early growth.
3. RED Shallot Set (1 lb Bag)
A 16-ounce heirloom bag that can deliver 30-40 bulbs — when the batch is good, it’s great.
Volume is the hook. At 16 ounces, this bag holds four times the weight of the Nero 4-ounce pack — a 4.0x gap — and happy owners mention pulling 30-40 bulbs out of a single order. One owner even noted they “easily got 30-40 bulbs in great shape,” slightly over the advertised pound, with sprouts showing just 4 days after planting.
The heirloom, GMO-free pedigree makes it a favorite for gardeners who want to save seeds and replant year after year. Full-sun planting with fall or spring timing gives you flexibility. But this pack carries the widest split in feedback — while some call the bulbs “big and almost the size of what you’d buy in the store,” others report getting just 8-9 bulbs or receiving sets with rot spots.
The honest read: condition is a lottery here. Some buyers get a vigorous, beautiful crop while others find several bulbs unplantable. For the price per ounce, it’s a strong value when it lands right, but it demands a quick inspection on arrival so rot doesn’t spread to the healthy bulbs.
The Upside
- 16-ounce bag can yield 30-40 bulbs
- Heirloom, GMO-free genetics for seed saving
- Some bulbs arrive store-sized and large
The Risk
- Condition varies — some batches arrive with rot spots
- Count not guaranteed; some bags hold far fewer bulbs
Best for: bargain-hunting gardeners who want maximum bulb weight per order and will sort through the batch.
Not ideal if: you want a guaranteed consistent count and pristine condition on every single bulb.
4. Easy to Grow Shallots Starters 6 Pack
Six Size #1 starter bulbs bred for colder climates, with an August-to-September harvest window.
Cold-hardiness sets this pack apart. Where other shallots struggle in chilly zones, this one is listed for USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9 — a broad range that covers most of the continental US, including northern gardens. Full sun and rich, well-drained soil give it the best shot at a strong August-to-September harvest.
The 6-bulb count is modest — a 50% gap above the 4-count Nero pack but still far behind the 20-count Monique set. Size #1 bulbs are the selling point here: standard, plant-ready starters that buyers describe as fresh and in good condition. Fall planting with a thick mulch layer is a proven approach for spring results.
The catch is packaging expectations. Some buyers received just four large bulbs in a box rather than the pictured six, with no bag — a letdown for the price. But the bulbs themselves sprout as directed and grow healthy. For a northern gardener who needs zone-4 capability, this is the most dependable climate match on the list.
Why It Works
- Hardy in zones 4-9, including cold northern gardens
- Fresh Size #1 bulbs sprout reliably when planted
- Full sun plus regular watering is all it needs
Watch For
- May arrive as 4 large bulbs instead of the pictured 6
- Small box packaging, not a bag
Pick this if: you garden in a cold zone and need bulbs rated for zones 4-9.
skip it if: you expect the exact pictured count or want maximum bulbs per dollar.
5. Shallots, the Gourmet Onion (12 oz)
The 12-ounce “gourmet’s delight” that adds chef-grade depth of flavor without overpowering a dish.
This is the pack for cooks who garden. Positioned as a gourmet’s delight, the shallot here is a bulb that grows other bulbs around it — unlike garlic, which grows from a single clove — and delivers that signature flavor between onion and garlic. “Favored By Chefs” and grown in the USA, it’s bred for the kitchen as much as the garden.
The bulbs arrive looking awesome, healthy, and large — some buyers found them so tempting they were hard to plant instead of eat. Size is the aspect owners praise most, with appearance close behind. At 12 ounces, it sits mid-pack on weight between the 4-ounce Nero and the 16-ounce RED set.
Germination is the honest wildcard here: some report strong growth while others found the bulbs would not grow in their garden at all. That split keeps it from the top of the list. For a gardener who values flavor and presentation above guaranteed sprouting, this is still a worthy pick — just plant extra if you need a full row to come up.
The Appeal
- Large, healthy, appetizing bulbs on arrival
- Chef-favored flavor profile, grown in the USA
- Full-size sets ready for immediate planting
The Risk
- Germination results vary widely between batches
- Occasional packs deliver far fewer bulbs than hoped
Choose it for: kitchen-first gardeners who want large, beautiful bulbs with gourmet flavor.
Pass on it if: you need reliable germination across a full planting bed.
6. Country Creek Fresh Shallots (1 lb)
Restaurant-quality 1-pound bags with bulbs bigger than the market — the premium choice for serious growers.
Size is the headline here. These are “large to medium” restaurant-quality shallots, and buyers confirm the bulbs are “nice and big, bigger than what you can buy at the market.” The outer skin is brown like a normal onion, but peel back two layers and you find the rich purple inner flesh — a visual cue of the quality within.
Quality and freshness are the two aspects owners praise most. The bulbs arrive dry, plump, and firm as recommended, often in a simple cardboard box that buyers were “really happy” to open. At 1 pound, this matches the RED set for weight but with a more consistent reputation for large, beautiful bulbs.
The recurring caveat is value and condition at the extremes. Some customers note bulbs that rotted in the ground, and a few found the cost steep for what arrived. But the majority experience is a top-tier product that makes buyers stop buying shallots at the market entirely. If you want the best single pound of planting shallots, this is the premium benchmark.
Why It’s Premium
- Large bulbs that exceed market quality and size
- Fresh, dry, plump condition praised by owners
- 1-pound weight for serious planting volume
Consider This
- A minority report bulbs rotting after planting
- Premium pricing for the quality tier
Splurge on it if: you want restaurant-quality, market-exceeding bulbs and prioritize size above all.
Steer clear if: you’re on a tight budget and willing to sort through variable condition for a lower price.
Understanding the Specs
Bulb Firmness and Condition
The single most important quality check for shallot bulbs is whether they arrive dry, plump, and firm. Soft spots, mold, or rot on even one bulb can spread to the rest of the bag, ruining your whole planting. Choose packs where buyers consistently mention firm bulbs and no mold.
Count vs. Weight vs. Size
Shallot packs advertise either a bulb count or a weight, and the two don’t always line up. A 20-count bag may hold mostly small bulbs, while a 1-pound bag might contain just 8-9 large ones. Decide if you want many small starts or fewer, stronger bulbs that produce bigger harvests.
FAQ
How many shallot bulbs come in a typical pack?
When should I plant shallot bulbs for the best harvest?
Will shallot bulbs grow in cold climates?
How do I know if shallot bulbs are rotten before planting?
What’s the difference between shallot sets and shallot seeds?
Do shallots prefer full sun or partial shade?
How much soil and water do shallot bulbs need?
Are these shallot bulbs GMO-free?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For the majority of shoppers, the shallot bulbs for planting winner is the Monique French Shallot Sets because it pairs the highest germination reliability with a generous 20-count pack and firm, mold-free bulbs. If you want maximum bulb weight and heirloom genetics in a single bag, grab the RED Shallot Set. And for cold-climate gardeners who need zone-4 hardiness, the Easy to Grow 6 Pack is the one to reach for.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of July 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
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